The federal jury in Texas has rejected voter intimidation allegations against all but one of the group of former President Donald Trump supporters who surrounded a Biden-Harris campaign bus on an interstate days before the 2020 election. Only one of the six Trump supporters sued in the civil trial was held responsible by the jury. The Texas man whose car brushed up against another as the caravan of vehicles, known as the “Trump Train,” raced down Interstate 35, was ordered to pay the bus driver $10,000 and an additional $30,000 in punitive damages. The five Trump supporters cleared in the lawsuit, including Joeylynn Mesaros, described the verdict as vindicating and a relief, expressing their desire to feel like normal people again after being harassed for participating in the Trump Train.
Despite their disagreement with the jury’s decision to clear five of the defendants, attorneys for those aboard the bus expressed satisfaction that justice was served. Tim Holloway, the driver of the campaign bus on October 30, 2020, stated that he was proud of his team and grateful for the outcome of the trial. The incident occurred while the Biden-Harris campaign bus was traveling from San Antonio to Austin for an event, with cars and pickup trucks waving Trump flags surrounding the bus on the highway. Wendy Davis, a former Texas Democratic lawmaker who was on the bus, testified that she feared for her life during the ordeal. Video footage recorded by Davis shows one of the defendants hitting a campaign volunteer’s car while the trucks blocked all lanes of traffic, causing the bus and other vehicles to slow down to 15 mph.
On the last day of early voting in Texas, with the bus scheduled to stop at San Marcos for an event at Texas State University, the event was canceled due to the escalating situation. Davis and others on the bus, including a campaign staffer and the driver, made repeated calls to 911 for a police escort through San Marcos, but no help arrived. The trial focused on whether the actions of the Trump Train participants amounted to political intimidation, as no criminal charges were filed against the six Trump supporters involved. The attorney for Eliazar Cisneros, the only member of the convoy found liable, stated that they would appeal the jury’s decision. Davis testified that the experience was traumatic for her and others on the bus, with the defendants allegedly enjoying making them afraid during the incident.
Despite the mixed outcome of the trial, both sides declared victory at the end of the two-week proceedings in an Austin courthouse. While the Biden-Harris campaign bus incident sparked controversy and legal action, the resolution provided closure for some involved. The five Trump supporters cleared of voter intimidation allegations expressed relief and a desire to move on from the incident, while Davis and her legal team acknowledged the complexity of the case. The aftermath of the trial highlighted the tensions and divisions within American politics, as both Democrats and Republicans continue to navigate the aftermath of the 2020 election and its contentious events. The trial’s conclusion may serve as a reminder of the importance of civil discourse and respect for differing viewpoints in the democratic process.
