On Sunday a federal judge rejected [opinion, PDF] President Donald Trump’s [official website] free speech defense in response to his alleged inciting of violence among protesters during his presidential campaign. The current lawsuit against Trump alleges the then-presidential candidate attempted to incite violence among his supporters by saying “get ’em out of here” in response to protesters at his Kentucky rally. At the rally two women and a man were supposedly shoved and punched by several members in attendance at the rally following his statements. The judge specifically held that there was sufficient evidentiary support that the injuries were a “direct and proximate result” of Trump’s comments. Two people who allegedly forced the three protesters out were also named in the lawsuit.

President Donald Trump’s election campaign faced serious concerns over eliciting violence against those opposed to his cause. In November state democrats raised voter intimidation suits in six states [Politico report], yet only a federal judge in Ohio granted the requested injunction before being rejected on appeal[JURIST report].