Texas jury clears most 'Trump Train' drivers in civil trial over 2020 Biden-Harris bus encounter

AUSTIN, Texas — 

A national assemblage successful Texas connected Monday cleared a radical of erstwhile President Donald Trump supporters and recovered 1 operator liable successful a civilian proceedings implicit a alleged "Trump Train" that surrounded a Biden-Harris run autobus connected a engaged road days earlier the 2020 election.

The two-week proceedings successful a national courthouse successful Austin centered connected whether the actions of the "Trump Train" participants amounted to governmental intimidation. Among those aboard the autobus was erstwhile Democratic lawmaker Wendy Davis, who testified she feared for her beingness portion a convoy of Trump supporters boxed successful the autobus on Interstate 35.

The assemblage awarded $10,000 to the autobus driver.

No transgression charges were filed against the six Trump supporters who were sued by Davis and 2 others aboard the bus. Civil rights advocates hoped a blameworthy verdict would nonstop a wide connection astir what constitutes governmental unit and intimidation.

On Oct. 20, 2020, a Biden-Harris run autobus was traveling from San Antonio to Austin for an lawsuit erstwhile a radical of cars and trucks waving Trump flags surrounded the bus.

Video that Davis recorded from the autobus shows pickup trucks with ample Trump flags slowing down to container successful the autobus arsenic it tried to determination distant from the radical of Trump supporters. One of the defendants deed a run volunteer's car portion the trucks occupied each lanes of traffic, forcing the autobus and everyone astir it to a 15 mph crawl.

It was the past time of aboriginal voting successful Texas and the autobus was scheduled to halt astatine San Marcos for an lawsuit astatine Texas State University.

The lawsuit was canceled aft Davis and others connected the autobus — a run staffer and the operator — made repeated calls to 911 asking for a constabulary escort done San Marcos and nary assistance arrived.

Davis testified that she felt frightened and anxious passim the ordeal. "I consciousness similar they were enjoying making america afraid," she testified. "It's traumatic for each of america to revisit that day."