An Austin jury cleared five out of six Donald Trump supporters accused of violating federal law by surrounding a Joe Biden campaign bus on a Texas highway in October 2020.
Eliazar Cisneros, the only defendant found guilty, was ordered to pay $30,000 in punitive damages and $10,000 in compensatory damages to the bus driver, Timothy Holloway, for violating the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. The act prohibits coordination to commit intimidation, harassment, or threats.
The case stemmed from a 2002 incident, where a caravan of Trump supporters, known as the “Trump Train,” allegedly surrounded a Biden bus on Interstate 35 and intimidated its passengers. The plaintiffs — former state Sen. Wendy Davis, former Biden campaign staffer David Gins, and the bus driver — argued that after the incident, they suffered symptoms of anxiety, depression, and/or insomnia.
Plaintiffs said vehicles slowed the bus to 15 mph on a highway with a speed limit of 79 mph, while the convoy honked at them. They said they felt like they were “taken hostage.”
“We didn’t know who they were and what they might be capable of,” Davis said.
Both sides saw the ruling as a victory.
“Each of us really had one interest at heart, and that was making sure that in elections going forward, people will understand that it is not acceptable to intimidate, harass and threaten people who want nothing more than to express their right to support the candidate of their choice,” said Davis.
On the other hand, Joeylynn Mesaros, one of the defendants, said she was refreshed after the ruling. However she said the trial was “rigged,” and that she felt she and her husband who also was a defendant, were “hunted like prey and like zoo animals in the cage and mischaracterized and misrepresented.” She also said together they spent between $200,00 and $300,000 on the case. According to Axios, a lawyer for Mesaros said they would ask the court to ensure the plaintiffs covered their legal fees.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Cisner’s lawyer, former U.S. Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, said he would appeal the verdict.
During testimony, Cisneros said Democrats were “destroying the country” and attested to a belief that he needed to protect the American way of life by participating in the Trump Train and in the deadly attack on the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
In addition to this year’s defendants, two defendants settled the case privately and publicly apologized for their actions.
“I apologize to the occupants of the bus for my part in actions that day that frightened or intimidated them,” said Hannah, daughter of defender Steve Ceh.
In November 2023, San Marocs also agreed to a settlement over the city’s failure to send police to escort or assist the bus. Plaintiffs argued the city ignored their pleas for help. This settlement resulted in the city paying $175,000 and agreeing to improve its response to political violence.
The statement also reported that plaintiffs are seeking to recover attorney fees in the case, which could exceed $1 million.
