‘Bears no inherent connection’: Trump can’t use presidency to dodge Capitol Police officer lawsuits, appeals court says

Background: In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, U.S. Capitol Police push back rioters trying to enter the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File). Inset: President Donald Trump speaks during a rally protesting the electoral college certification of Joe Biden as President in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File.)

Background: In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, U.S. Capitol Police push back rioters trying to enter the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File). Inset: President Donald Trump speaks during a rally protesting the Electoral College certification of Joe Biden as President in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File.)

Several current and former officers with the U.S. Capitol Police are asking a federal judge to give them access to grand jury materials from special counsel Jack Smith’s criminal investigation into Donald Trump as they seek to hold the president-elect personally accountable for his role in the violent riots that erupted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

In an application filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the eight officers asked the court to disclose certain materials obtained through the grand jury investigation for use in their lawsuit against Trump.