A federal jury in Texas has cleared five out of six Trump supporters accused of voter intimidation in an incident involving a Biden-Harris campaign bus on an interstate days before the 2020 election. The group, known as the “Trump Train,” surrounded the bus on Interstate 35, causing the bus and other vehicles to slow down to a crawl. The lone defendant held responsible was ordered to pay $40,000 in damages to the bus driver.
The trial, which lasted two weeks in an Austin courthouse, ended with both sides claiming victory. The Trump supporters described the verdict as vindicating, while attorneys for those aboard the bus said justice was served despite disagreeing with the jury’s decision.
The incident occurred on the last day of early voting in Texas, and the Biden-Harris campaign bus was on its way to an event at Texas State University. The convoy of vehicles waving Trump flags boxed in the bus on the highway, causing fear and anxiety among those on board. The trial focused on whether the actions of the “Trump Train” amounted to political intimidation.
No criminal charges were filed against the six Trump supporters involved in the incident. The attorney for the defendant held liable, Eliazar Cisneros, has stated that they plan to appeal the jury’s decision.
Former Texas Democratic lawmaker Wendy Davis, who was on the bus during the incident, testified that she felt scared and anxious throughout the ordeal. The trial brought back traumatic memories for all involved as they revisited the events of that day.
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