Two US Capitol police officers have sued former President Donald Trump alleging he caused them personal and emotional injury by inciting the deadly January 6 riot.
Officers James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby say Trump "inflamed, encouraged, incited, directed, and aided and abetted" the mob which flooded the Capitol building following Trump's election loss, killing five and injuring 140.
Both men say Trump encouraged the rioters not just on the day of the riot but in the weeks that led up to it.
The 46-page document filed on Tuesday details the terror of the insurrection during which the officers say they felt overwhelmed, outnumbered and powerless.
Both men say they were viciously attacked during the riot including with chemical irritants and items like flagpoles.
They feared they would die.
"Foremost in Officer Blassingame's mind was the terrifying certainty that the insurrectionists were interested in him and the other officers not going home to their families that night," the complaint says.
Blassingame suffered injuries to his head and back when he was slammed against a stone column and beaten - the officer still has back pain now, according to the suit.
Hemby was beaten bloody, suffering cuts and bruises to his face and hands during the siege.
He was also hit with chemicals that irritated his eyes, nose and throat.
The suit cites a number of instances it describes as Trump encouraging his followers for the eventual assault on the Capitol, including a moment during the first presidential debate when he told right wing militant group the Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by."
"Minutes later, the Chairman of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, posted a message on Parler... saying, 'Standing by, sir,'" the complaint says. "The Proud Boys would go on to become a core group of January 6 insurrectionists."
So far 13 members of the Proud Boys have been arrested for their participation in the riot including Tarrio.
The lawsuit is asking for NZ$107, 426 for each of the officers, plus interest and costs.
