A federal judge in Washington on Monday wrestled with whether ex-President Donald Trump is immune from civil lawsuits filed over last year’s Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. 

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta of the District of Columbia, who is simultaneously presiding over criminal prosecutions stemming from the Jan. 6 violence, pressed an attorney for the former president as well as those representing the lawmakers and U.S. Capitol Police officers suing Trump about comments the ex-president made at a rally ahead of the violence, and if they fell under the scope of his official duties.