In the U.S. Western District courtroom on September 9, attorneys representing Trump Train supporters being sued in civil court denied the allegations that their clients harassed or threatened individuals aboard the Biden-Harris campaign bus during a drive on a Texas highway in 2020.
During the opening statements, the plaintiffs detailed the accusations that the Trump Train defendants planned dangerous and illegal actions to force the campaign bus out of town.
However, the defense attorneys argued that the lawsuit against their clients was merely an attempt by Democrats to silence the First Amendment rights of Trump supporters and punish their political opponents, dismissing it as “lawfare”.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys presented the jury with video evidence of the Trump Train, a caravan of Republican activists displaying flags in support of former President Donald Trump, recorded by Democrats on the bus.
The plaintiffs in the case include David Gins, a Biden campaign staffer; Wendy Davis, a former Texas state senator who once ran against Texas Governor Gregg Abbott; and Timothy Holloway, the bus driver. They claimed that several members of the caravan violated the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 by conspiring to disrupt President Joe Biden’s campaign and intimidate those on the bus.
“Those driving knew what they were doing was wrong,” said Samuel Hal, an attorney representing the plaintiffs.
Multiple videos shared on social media, including some recorded by Trump supporters, showed cars and pickup trucks riding alongside the campaign bus as it traveled from San Antonio to Austin on October 30, 2020.
According to the lawsuit, the Trump supporters boxed in the bus, slowed it down, and prevented it from exiting the highway, forcing the bus driver to make evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys introduced social media posts by the defendants, some of which contained profanity, in an attempt to demonstrate their intent and coordination.
The plaintiffs also claimed that their clients suffered mental anguish and sought unspecified compensation.
The remaining defendants in the lawsuit are Steve and Randi Ceh, Eliazar Cisneros, Dolores Park, and Joeylynn and Robert Mesaros, each represented by different attorneys.
The defendants’ attorney, Jason Geaves, stated that Pastor Steve Ceh and his wife, Randi, did not participate in the Trump Train that day due to work obligations. Geaves, who was hired by Citizens Defending Freedom, expressed surprise at their inclusion in the lawsuit, describing the incident as a “boisterous political rally” that shouldn’t lead to legal action.
Steve Ceh, one of the defendants, expressed his belief that he and his wife were targeted because of their Christian faith and political activism.
Initially, the couple represented themselves in court as no attorney would take their case until a few weeks before the trial began. Steve Ceh sees this as an act of God, saying, “He stepped in to get us attorneys.”
Joeylynn and Robert Mesaros, also defendants in the case, insist that they did nothing wrong and plan to launch a fundraiser to cover their legal expenses.
“My clients have been unfairly maligned for three years because these plaintiffs and their attorneys deliberately took clips of video out of context,” said attorney Jerad Najvar, who represents the Mesaresos. Najvar expressed confidence that the plaintiffs’ own evidence would support the defense’s case.
Videos of Trump Train members surrounding the bus as it traveled on Interstate 35 near Austin, Texas went viral and garnered praise from Donald Trump.
The defense attorneys argued that it was the plaintiffs who were at fault, accusing the bus driver of swerving to intimidate Trump supporters.
During the trial, one defense attorney used a video introduced by the plaintiffs to show that the bus had multiple opportunities to exit the highway.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs’ attorneys plan to call an expert witness on safety who will testify that the Trump supporters escorting the bus that day allegedly violated criminal and motor vehicle laws.
However, the defense challenged the credibility of the expert witness, claiming that they are paid millions to testify.
The trial is expected to last three weeks.
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