this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2024
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas jury will soon decide whether a convoy of supporters of then-President Donald Trump violently intimidated former Democratic lawmaker Wendy Davis and two others on a Biden-Harris campaign bus when a so-called “Trump Train” boxed them in for more than an hour on a Texas highway days before the 2020 election.

The trial, which began on Sept. 9, resumes Monday and is expected to last another week.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that six of the Trump Train drivers violated state and federal law. Lawyers for the defendants said they did not conspire against the Democrats on the bus and that their actions are protected speech.

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[–] FlashMobOfOne@beehaw.org 25 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that six of the Trump Train drivers violated state and federal law. Lawyers for the defendants said they did not conspire against the Democrats on the bus and that their actions are protected speech.

I don't know how, given the harassing and objectionable temperament of Trump supporters, that anyone could argue this with a straight face. How is it even a question that this was a violent incident? Because they didn't fire a gun at the bus?

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 month ago

Kidnapping and forcible confinement now officially political acts of speech.

Autobots, roll out.

[–] Chuymatt@beehaw.org 13 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

If this argument flies with this judge, it needs to be very quickly used on the Trump campaign folks.

[–] delmain@beehaw.org 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

So glad that the court system is working efficiently. This happened in 2020 and we're only just now going to trial for it in 2024.

[–] pup_atlas@pawb.social 8 points 1 month ago

This. I am so tired of hearing “the wheels of justice turn slowly”. If justice isn’t able to address a problem for so long that the perpetrators are allowed to continue perpetuating the same behavior an entire election cycle later, the justice system has failed, straight up. This is unacceptable.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Harassment, intimidation, and false imprisonment are not free speech.

This was an act of terrorism clearly intended to terrorize those inside the bus.

[–] papertowels@lemmy.one 1 points 1 month ago

They just couldn't get their lawyers to argue "it was just a prank, bro"

[–] LallyLuckFarm@beehaw.org 5 points 1 month ago

Defense attorney is technically correct, they didn't conspire against the Democrats on the bus because they thought some different Democrats were on it instead. bee fingerguns cool emoji