Judge Demands Trump’s Stance on Jan. 6 Evidence: A Crucial Moment in Legal Battle

A federal judge has determined that Donald Trump cannot claim immunity to shield himself from civil liability related to his speech on January 6 and the subsequent violence. Consequently, the former president has been given one week to justify why the discovery process should not proceed against him.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta issued a brief order stating that discovery efforts, including deposition, are currently paused for Trump. The continuation of this pause will depend on Trump’s forthcoming response, as indicated by the judge.

Judge Mehta’s minute order noted that “the condition to stay discovery against any defendant or third party in these matters is no longer extant,” following the court’s decision on Trump’s immunity claim. He instructed the involved parties to collaborate and submit a proposed discovery plan by May 1, 2026.

Furthermore, Judge Mehta directed that “President Trump shall show cause by April 29, 2026, why merits discovery should not proceed against him,” and specified that his response should not exceed ten pages.

This directive follows Judge Mehta’s earlier ruling that presidential immunity does not protect Trump from liability for actions taken in a private capacity. The judge also concluded that Trump’s speech on January 6 could reasonably be interpreted as incitement, not shielded by the First Amendment.

“His statements to ‘Take the F’ing mags away’ and that ‘They’re not here to hurt me’ may not amount to a confession. But those words support the reasonable inference that he meant for his Ellipse Speech to be heard as ‘an implicit call for imminent violence or lawlessness,’” Mehta said, clarifying that Trump could still “reassert official-acts immunity as a defense at trial.”

According to the minute order, the plaintiffs must respond to Trump’s brief by May 8, and Trump has until May 15 to reply to the plaintiffs’ response.