Ohio Couple Sues for $30M After Alleged Violent Ejection from Trump Rally
An Ohio couple seeks $30 million in a federal lawsuit alleging they were violently tackled and assaulted during a Trump rally in Youngstown.
POLICY WIRE — Youngstown, USA — A pair from Ohio has launched a federal civil rights action demanding $30 million in damages following allegations that they were physically assaulted and forcibly removed from a President Donald Trump political event.
The filing, submitted Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Youngstown, targets several defendants including Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, the City of Youngstown, and security firm Ironwood LLC. The suit also names Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene and four unnamed deputies.
The plaintiffs, referred to as John and Jane Doe, claim that the defendants infringed upon their First Amendment rights to free speech and violated constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure. The complaint also includes counts of battery and assault.
The incident occurred during an October 12 rally at the Covelli Centre. According to the legal documents, John Doe interrupted a speech by Husted to voice opposition regarding congressional handling of files involving late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The complaint states John Doe shouted that congressional leaders were pedophile protectors, alleging that officials were trying to suppress documents from the Epstein investigation. Jane Doe reportedly participated in the dissent, though her specific words were not detailed in the initial filing.
When security and police moved to eject the couple, the lawsuit alleges an officer approached John Doe from the side, grabbing his head and neck before slamming him to the floor.
The physical struggle reportedly caused John Doe’s glasses to break and damaged his cell phone before he was dragged out of the building. Jane Doe claims she was also assaulted and violently removed when she tried to shield her husband.
The lawsuit asserts that Husted continued his presentation from the podium without ordering security to halt the removal. The couple further claims they were verbally attacked and berated by staff during the process and were denied immediate medical aid.
A medical evaluation conducted earlier this week diagnosed John Doe with a cervical sprain and a head injury, with doctors calling for follow-up care.
The filing notes that John Doe is a disabled individual with asthma and vision impairment. Both plaintiffs state they are still suffering from significant mental and physical trauma, as well as damage to personal property.
Following the event, the couple filed incident reports with the East Canton Police Department, despite the rally taking place within Youngstown city limits.
Assigned to Judge Benita Pearson, the case seeks both preliminary and permanent injunctions, along with $5 million in compensatory pay, $25 million in punitive damages, and coverage of legal fees.
In a statement to the media, Sheriff Greene indicated he was aware of the filing and expressed confidence that his deputies acted appropriately and within the law, noting he could not comment further due to the ongoing nature of the litigation.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
