Trump Supporters Cleared of Voter Intimidation in Biden Lawsuit \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A federal jury in Texas cleared five Trump supporters of voter intimidation charges related to surrounding a Biden-Harris campaign bus in 2020. One defendant was found liable for causing a collision with a campaign volunteer’s car and ordered to pay $40,000 in damages. The case, brought by those aboard the bus, focused on whether the convoy’s actions amounted to political intimidation. Both sides declared victory following the two-week trial.
Biden Campaign Bus Incident: Key Takeaways
- A federal jury cleared five Trump supporters of voter intimidation allegations tied to the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign bus incident.
- One defendant was found liable for damages and ordered to pay $40,000 for causing a collision.
- The lawsuit stemmed from an incident where Trump supporters surrounded a Biden campaign bus on Interstate 35 in Texas.
- Plaintiffs included former Texas lawmaker Wendy Davis, who was aboard the bus and testified about her fear during the incident.
- No criminal charges were filed, but the civil trial focused on whether the “Trump Train” participants engaged in political intimidation.
- Both the cleared defendants and those representing the plaintiffs claimed some level of victory.
- The defense attorney for the lone liable defendant plans to appeal the verdict.
Deep Look:
A federal jury in Texas has cleared most of the Trump supporters accused of voter intimidation after they surrounded a Biden-Harris campaign bus on an interstate highway just days before the 2020 election. After two weeks of civil proceedings, only one of the six defendants was found liable for damages, with the jury ordering him to pay $40,000 in connection with a minor collision that occurred during the event.
The trial, which took place in an Austin courthouse, focused on whether the actions of the Trump supporters—who drove vehicles adorned with Trump flags and boxed in the Biden bus on Interstate 35—constituted political intimidation. The plaintiffs, including three people aboard the bus such as former Texas Democratic state senator Wendy Davis, argued that they feared for their safety as the “Trump Train” convoy forced the bus to slow down to a crawl. Davis testified that she felt “terrified” throughout the incident and repeatedly called 911, but no police intervention arrived in time.
The incident occurred on October 30, 2020, just days before the presidential election, as the Biden-Harris bus traveled from San Antonio to Austin. The caravan of Trump supporters, which included cars and pickup trucks flying Trump flags, surrounded the bus as it made its way along Interstate 35. According to Davis and others on board, the convoy caused the bus to slow to just 15 mph as it occupied all lanes of the highway, forcing a campaign event at Texas State University in San Marcos to be canceled.
The Biden campaign staff on board, including the bus driver and Davis, repeatedly called for police assistance as they feared for their safety. Video recorded by Davis showed one defendant, Eliazar Cisneros, colliding with a campaign volunteer’s car while driving aggressively in the convoy. The lawsuit, brought by Davis, a campaign staffer, and the bus driver, alleged that the actions of the Trump supporters amounted to political intimidation designed to disrupt the Biden-Harris campaign in Texas.
Despite the plaintiffs’ claims, the jury ultimately found that only Cisneros was responsible for any wrongdoing, ordering him to pay $10,000 in compensatory damages to the bus driver and an additional $30,000 in punitive damages. Cisneros’ attorney, Francisco Canseco, indicated plans to appeal the verdict, stating, “With regard to my client, it’s not over yet.”
No criminal charges were filed against any of the Trump supporters involved in the incident, but the civil lawsuit focused on the broader question of whether the convoy’s behavior crossed the line into voter intimidation. According to Texas law, political intimidation can occur when actions are intended to scare or coerce voters, but proving this standard can be challenging, especially in high-profile cases involving political rallies or demonstrations.
For those cleared of the charges, the jury’s decision was a welcome relief. Joeylynn Mesaros, one of the defendants who participated in the “Trump Train,” described the ordeal as a stressful and prolonged experience. “We’re just ready to feel like normal people again,” she said after the verdict. Mesaros also recounted being harassed by critics for her role in the convoy, saying that she and the other defendants felt unfairly targeted for their political views.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs, including bus driver Tim Holloway, maintained that their case was about holding people accountable for their actions, not politics. “When I came to this case, it was never about politics that day,” Holloway said. “Justice was served, and I’m proud of my team.” He expressed satisfaction with the fact that Cisneros was held responsible, even if five of the other defendants were cleared.
Wendy Davis, who has been a prominent figure in Texas politics and was once a gubernatorial candidate, testified about the emotional toll the incident had on her. She described feeling overwhelmed by fear and anxiety during the convoy’s aggressive actions. “I feel like they were enjoying making us afraid,” Davis testified, explaining that the experience left lasting psychological scars.
The two-week trial delved into the chaotic moments of the event, with attorneys on both sides debating whether the convoy’s actions were a form of voter intimidation or simply an expression of political enthusiasm. The defense argued that the Trump supporters were not acting with any malicious intent and that their actions did not rise to the level of intimidation. Despite this argument, the jury found that Cisneros’ actions, particularly the collision with a volunteer’s car, crossed the line.
The incident became one of many flashpoints during the highly contentious 2020 presidential election, which saw tensions escalate between supporters of Donald Trump and Joe Biden. In Texas, where the political landscape has been shifting, the sight of Trump supporters surrounding the Biden bus underscored the polarized nature of the campaign. Following the incident, Trump himself praised the convoy, tweeting a video of the “Trump Train” and calling its members “patriots.”
In the months and years since the 2020 election, the legal battle stemming from this incident has continued to garner attention. For the plaintiffs, the civil lawsuit represented a broader effort to address what they viewed as an intimidation campaign designed to silence political opposition. Davis and her fellow plaintiffs argued that they had every right to campaign freely without fear of being targeted by aggressive political supporters.
However, the jury’s mixed verdict suggests that while one participant’s actions were deemed excessive, the broader convoy’s behavior did not meet the legal definition of voter intimidation in the eyes of the court. With plans for an appeal already in motion, the legal wrangling surrounding this case may not be over.
The case highlights the challenges of defining and prosecuting voter intimidation, especially in a political climate as charged as the 2020 election. As the legal process continues, both sides are left grappling with the broader implications of the verdict.
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