Trump has a deadline to explain why 'discovery should not proceed against him' in Jan. 6 lawsuits now that judge ruled

Source: Law & Crime

Apr 21st, 2026, 10:50 am


Now that a federal judge has ruled that Donald Trump can't hide behind immunity to avoid civil liability for his Jan. 6 speech and the violence that followed that day, the president has a week to explain "why merits discovery should not proceed against him."

In a brief order on Monday, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta told the Democratic lawmakers and Capitol Police officers suing Trump that discovery against the president remains on hold, including a deposition. Whether that continues depends on what Trump says next, the judge suggested.

"The condition to stay discovery against any defendant or third party in these matters is no longer extant, with the court having ruled on Defendant President Trump's immunity motion," Mehta's minute order began. "Accordingly, the parties in these consolidated cases shall meet and confer and, by May 1, 2026, submit a proposed discovery plan." "President Trump shall show cause by April 29, 2026, why merits discovery should not proceed against him. His response shall be no more than ten pages," the Barack Obama-appointed jurist added.

The order comes several weeks after Mehta ruled that presidential immunity could not spare Trump from liability for unofficial acts in his private capacity, also finding the president's "remarks" from the Ellipse on Jan. 6 "plausibly were inciting words that are not protected by the First Amendment."

Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/trump-ordered-to-explain-why-discovery-should-not-proceed-against-him-in-jan-6-lawsuits/

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