After more than two decades covering U.S. politics, I’ve rarely seen a ruling this devastating. On April Fool’s Day 2026, federal Judge Amit Mehta brutally shredded Donald Trump’s immunity claims in a scathing 112-page opinion, ruling he was acting as a “disgruntled candidate,” not President. Civil lawsuits from Capitol Police officers injured on January 6th can now proceed to discovery, depositions, and massive financial liability. From Trump’s humiliating court history to the human cost of January 6th, this is accountability the strongman cannot escape.
