• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
Man Ordered to Pay $500K Fine For Assaulting Police Officer During Capitol Riot

Man Ordered to Pay $500K Fine For Assaulting Police Officer During Capitol Riot

June 23, 2025
Trump State Dem’s War Chest Balloons As Republicans Vie To Topple Him

Trump State Dem’s War Chest Balloons As Republicans Vie To Topple Him

July 10, 2025
Trump Admin Ramps Up Fight Against ‘Flesh Eating Parasite’ Threatening US Cattle Industry

Trump Admin Ramps Up Fight Against ‘Flesh Eating Parasite’ Threatening US Cattle Industry

July 10, 2025
Washington Post Trots Out Literal Clown To Rip On Trump

Washington Post Trots Out Literal Clown To Rip On Trump

July 10, 2025
Son Of Billionaire Linked To Epstein On Verge Of Taking Top Job In Trump Admin

Son Of Billionaire Linked To Epstein On Verge Of Taking Top Job In Trump Admin

July 10, 2025
University Staffer Sabotaged Jewish Researcher’s Work To Make It Appear Fraudulent, Lawsuit Alleges

University Staffer Sabotaged Jewish Researcher’s Work To Make It Appear Fraudulent, Lawsuit Alleges

July 10, 2025
Bush-Appointed Judge Steps In To Subvert Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

Bush-Appointed Judge Steps In To Subvert Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

July 10, 2025
Turns Out Americans Really Don’t Care About Climate Change After All

Turns Out Americans Really Don’t Care About Climate Change After All

July 10, 2025
EXCLUSIVE: Trump EPA Brings America Up To Speed On Attempts To Tinker With Sun

EXCLUSIVE: Trump EPA Brings America Up To Speed On Attempts To Tinker With Sun

July 10, 2025
‘Absolutely Trash’: Kristi Noem Turns Tables On CNN Over Reporting About Texas Flood Response

‘Absolutely Trash’: Kristi Noem Turns Tables On CNN Over Reporting About Texas Flood Response

July 10, 2025
Dems Sound Alarm That Party May Be ‘Permanent Minority’ Unless It Changes Course

Dems Sound Alarm That Party May Be ‘Permanent Minority’ Unless It Changes Course

July 10, 2025
Six Secret Service Agents Suspended Over Security Shortcomings In Trump Assassination Attempt

Six Secret Service Agents Suspended Over Security Shortcomings In Trump Assassination Attempt

July 10, 2025
One Of El Salvador’s ‘Most Wanted’ Nabbed In America’s Heartland

One Of El Salvador’s ‘Most Wanted’ Nabbed In America’s Heartland

July 10, 2025
  • Donald Trump
  • State of the Union
  • Elon Musk
  • Tariffs
  • Congress
  • Faith
  • Immigration
Thursday, July 10, 2025
  • Login
IJR
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls
No Result
View All Result
IJR
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Man Ordered to Pay $500K Fine For Assaulting Police Officer During Capitol Riot

by Andrew Powell
June 23, 2025 at 6:59 pm
in News
240 12
0
Man Ordered to Pay $500K Fine For Assaulting Police Officer During Capitol Riot

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 6: Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images)

491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A legal decision on Monday delivered a financial penalty in answer to the chaos of the “Stop the Steal” protests on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

A federal jury awarded $500,000 to Erin Smith, the widow of Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, who died by suicide nine days after defending the U.S. Capitol. The man partially blamed for assaulting him during the riot, chiropractor David Walls-Kaufman, was found liable, according to the Associated Press.

The jury ordered Walls-Kaufman to pay $380,000 in punitive damages and $60,000 in compensatory damages to Erin Smith, along with another $60,000 to Jeffrey Smith’s estate for pain and suffering.

This followed a trial where jurors reviewed body camera footage and heard arguments about a pivotal three-second encounter inside the Capitol.

Despite the monetary award, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes had previously dismissed the widow’s wrongful-death claim, ruling that no juror could reasonably conclude that Walls-Kaufman’s actions alone caused the trauma leading to Smith’s suicide.

Still, the jury found that the assault occurred, and sided with Erin Smith in holding Walls-Kaufman accountable.

“Erin is grateful to receive some measure of justice,” said her attorney, David P. Weber.

Walls-Kaufman, now 69, maintained his innocence, calling the verdict “absolutely ridiculous.”

“No crime happened. I never struck the officer. I never intended to strike the officer,” he said, visibly shaken.

His attorney, Hughie Hunt, argued that the incident was too brief to warrant such a high judgment: “We’re talking about a three-second event,” he told the court.

“It’s not shocking, Mr. Hunt. A lot of things can happen in three seconds,” Judge Reyes replied.

Officer Smith’s tragic death came just as he resumed duty. Though cleared for work, his family said he’d shown no signs of mental health issues prior to the riot. Erin Smith believes Walls-Kaufman struck her husband with his own baton, causing a concussion and subsequent trauma that led to his suicide.

Walls-Kaufman was convicted of a misdemeanor related to the riot and sentenced to 60 days in prison — only to be pardoned during President Trump’s return to office, part of a sweeping clemency granted to nearly 1,600 defendants.

Over 100 officers were injured during the Capitol riot. Two officers, including Smith, later died by suicide. Another officer, Brian Sicknick, died the following day from a stroke.

Tags: Capitol riotDonald TrumpJ6Law EnforcementpoliticsStop the StealSuicideU.S. News
Share196Tweet123
Andrew Powell

Andrew Powell

IJR, Contributor Writer

Advertisements

Top Stories June 10th
Top Stories June 7th
Top Stories June 6th
Top Stories June 3rd
Top Stories May 30th
Top Stories May 29th
Top Stories May 24th
Top Stories May 23rd
Top Stories May 21st
Top Stories May 17th

Join Over 6M Subscribers

We’re organizing an online community to elevate trusted voices on all sides so that you can be fully informed.





IJR

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Trusted Voices On All Sides

  • About Us
  • GDPR Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Standards & Corrections Policy
  • Subscribe to IJR

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • US News
  • Commentary
  • World News
  • Faith
  • Latest Polls

    Copyright © 2024 IJR

Top Stories June 10th Top Stories June 7th Top Stories June 6th Top Stories June 3rd Top Stories May 30th Top Stories May 29th Top Stories May 24th Top Stories May 23rd Top Stories May 21st Top Stories May 17th