A group of January 6 defendants, including inmate Edward Jacob Lang, have filed a class-action lawsuit against 21 Capitol Police officers and officials for “millions of dollars in damages.” The lawsuit alleges that the officers caused injuries to the defendants during the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Lang, who describes himself as a “January 6 political prisoner,” was arrested soon after the riot and is accused of wielding a dangerous weapon against Capitol Police officers and obstructing an official proceeding. He has been in prison since his arrest and has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
In an interview with Real America’s Voice, Lang claimed that over 78 January 6 defendants are seeking damages for injuries caused by the Capitol Police officers, including being shot with rubber bullets, bludgeoned nearly to death, and suffering long-lasting lung effects from chemical spray. According to Lang, the lawsuit was picked up by attorneys Stefanie Lambert and Russell Newman, who are representing the defendants. Lang also mentioned that 17 other Capitol Police officers and officials are yet to be served in the lawsuit.
Lang shared a video on social media showing an unidentified person delivering a “service document” to Thomas DiBiase, general counsel at the United States Capitol Police. In the video, DiBiase does not accept the delivery and states that it needs to be sent to his office. The lawsuit alleges that the actions of the Capitol Police officers during the January 6 attack led to the deaths of four unarmed peaceful protestors. Among the casualties of the attack were USCP Officer Brian Sicknick, who died after suffering two strokes, and four other police officers who died by suicide following the riot.
Several individuals in the crowd, including Kevin Greeson, Benjamin Phillips, Rosanne Boyland, and Ashli Babbitt, also died on the day of the riots due to natural causes or accidental overdose. The lawsuit filed by the January 6 defendants highlights the injuries and damages suffered by the individuals during the attack and holds the Capitol Police officers responsible for their actions. Newsweek could not independently verify whether the lawsuit had been filed and has reached out to Lang for comment as well as the Capitol Police for a response.
The January 6 attack on the Capitol resulted in widespread chaos and violence, leading to multiple casualties and injuries among both law enforcement officers and Trump supporters. The aftermath of the riot sparked investigations and legal proceedings against those involved in the attack, including the arrest of numerous individuals accused of participating in the insurrection. The class-action lawsuit filed by the January 6 defendants against the Capitol Police officers seeks accountability for the injuries and damages incurred during the attack and raises questions about the response of law enforcement during the violent events at the Capitol.
