WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Barbara Lee, lead plaintiff in a civil suit against Donald Trump for damages related to the January 6th, 2021 insurrection of the Capitol, released the following statement on a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The court’s decision denied efforts from Donald Trump’s legal team to dismiss the case based on presidential immunity.

“Donald Trump incited an insurrection against the United States government. But no one, including the president, is above the law. The protection of our democracy is my top priority, and last week our case against the former president crossed another critical threshold: we will not let him avoid responsibility for his actions,” said Congresswoman Lee. “Justice is owed to the Congressional staff, Capitol support staff, law enforcement, and members of Congress who feared for their lives on January 6, 2021. I look forward to seeing Mr. Trump in court.”

Congresswoman Lee and nine of her House Democratic colleagues filed a lawsuit accusing Trump of violating the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act, which sought to protect lawmakers from threats or intimidation against carrying out their duties.