AUSTIN, Texas—Attorneys for “Trump Train” supporters being sued in civil court denied accusations that their clients harassed or threatened those aboard the Biden–Harris campaign bus driving on a Texas highway in 2020.
Opening statements in the U.S. Western District courtroom on Sept. 9 detailed allegations that the Trump Train defendants planned “dangerous and illegal” actions to run the campaign bus out of town.
Defense attorneys countered that the case against their clients was nothing more than “lawfare” and an attempt by Democrats to silence the First Amendment rights of Trump supporters and punish their political opponents.
Plaintiff’s attorneys showed the jury video clips of the Trump Train—a caravan of Republican activists displaying flags on their vehicles in support of former President Donald Trump—recorded by Democrats on the bus.
Plaintiffs include Biden campaign staffer David Gins; former Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis, who once ran against Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott; and bus driver Timothy Holloway.
They sued several members of the caravan, claiming that they violated the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 by conspiring to disrupt President Joe Biden’s campaign for president in 2020 and intimidate those on the bus.
“Those driving knew what they were doing was wrong,” plaintiff’s attorney Samuel Hal told the jury.
Videos shared on social media, including some recorded by Trump supporters, show cars and pickup trucks riding alongside the campaign bus as it traveled from San Antonio to Austin on Oct. 30, 2020.
The lawsuit states that Trump supporters boxed in the bus while slowing it down and kept it from exiting the highway. The bus driver allegedly had to make evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision.
Plaintiff’s attorneys introduced social media posts, some laced with profanity, by the defendants in an attempt to show their intent and coordination.
Also, attorneys for the plaintiffs said their clients suffered “mental anguish” and deserved unspecified compensation.
Defendants who remain in the lawsuit include Steve and Randi Ceh, Eliazar Cisneros, Dolores Park, and Joeylynn and Robert Mesaros. Different attorneys represent them.
Jason Geaves, an attorney for Pastor Steve Ceh and his wife, Randi, of Canyon Lake, said they didn’t participate in the Trump Train that day because they were working.
Geaves was hired by Citizens Defending Freedom, which helps pastors with legal needs. Geaves told The Epoch Times his clients were surprised they were added to the lawsuit. “It was a boisterous political rally. It’s certainly something that people shouldn’t be sued over,” he said of the bus incident.
Steve Ceh told The Epoch Times that he believes he and his wife were a target because they are Christians who are active in politics.
Up until a couple of weeks before the trial, the couple, who live in a 40-foot recreational vehicle, represented themselves because no attorney would take their case.
“I believe this is an act of God. He stepped in to get us attorneys,” Steve Ceh said.
Defendants Joeylynn and Robert Mesaros of New Braunfels told The Epoch Times they did nothing wrong.
“We believe we will win at trial but fear the plaintiffs will keep appealing because the point for them isn’t the truth. It’s intimidation,” Joeylynn Mesaros claimed. She added that she and her husband launched a fundraiser at www.FreeSpeechDefender.com to pay for their legal fees.
“My clients have been unfairly maligned for three years because these plaintiffs and their attorneys deliberately took clips of video out of context. As I told the jury today, we will now show the whole story and the plaintiffs’ own evidence will make our case,“ their attorney, Jerad Najvar told The Epoch Times.
Videos of Trump Train members surrounding the bus as it traveled on Interstate 35 near Austin, Texas, went viral and drew praise from Trump.
Defense attorneys argued that it was the plaintiffs who were at fault, accusing the bus driver of swerving to intimidate Trump supporters.
One defense attorney used a video introduced by the plaintiffs to show that the bus could have exited numerous times from the highway.
Another drew attention to what appeared to be a lack of fear exhibited by Democrats on the bus.
Plaintiff’s attorneys also intend to call an expert safety witness to the stand who will testify that Trump supporters escorting the bus on the highway that day allegedly violated criminal and motor vehicle laws.
However, the defense said that the expert witness is paid millions to testify.
The trial is expected to last three weeks.
