Trump Accused in Lawsuit of Causing Jan. 6 Cop Brian Sicknick’s Wrongful Death

The estate of Brian Sicknick, the Capitol Police officer who died a day after responding to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, sued Donald Trump on Thursday, alleging the former president and his “false and incendiary” rhetoric had a hand in the officer’s death.

In their 47-page suit, attorneys for Sicknick’s estate traced the officer’s death back to Trump, who urged a mob of his supporters to “fight like hell” and “show strength” in a speech hours before the assault on the Capitol.

Also named in the wrongful death complaint, which was filed in Washington, D.C.’s federal court, were Julian Khater and George Tanios, two rioters who pleaded guilty to related crimes last year. Prosecutors in their cases did not argue the pair had directly caused Sicknick’s death.

On Jan. 6, Khater, a Pennsylvania smoothie shop owner, sprayed several law enforcement officers, including Sicknick, in the face with chemical irritant that he referred to as “bear shit.” Tanios, a West Virginia sandwich shop owner, supplied and carried the chemicals.

“Through his words and conduct, Defendant Trump endorsed and ratified the violent actions of the mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol, including Defendants Khater and Tanios,” the lawsuit says.