EVEN as he was leaving the White House in January there were many lawyers and pundits predicting that Donald Trump would soon be in court.

The former US president, who had immunity from criminal charges and civil cases while in the White House, is now facing up to 30 different lawsuits, some dating back to before his presidency.

The Independent last week said that in his lifetime Trump has “reportedly faced an estimated 4000 cases, plus two (unsuccessful) impeachments, two (successful) divorces, six bankruptcies, and 26 sexual misconduct allegations”.

Trump is now being investigated by the State of New York over alleged financial irregularities, while the authorities in the state of Georgia is inquiring into his alleged attempt to “fix” the election. He is also facing two defamation cases from the alleged victims of sexual crimes after he claimed the two women were lying.

Two Democrat Congress members have filed lawsuits over the riot that engulfed the Capitol on January 6 and left five people dead.

Jason Miller, a Trump senior advisor, said in response to those suits that the president didn’t organise the riot and “did not incite or conspire to incite any violence at the Capitol on January 6”.

Yet it is the latest civil case filed this week against Trump in Washington which could be the most damaging, as it has been raised by two ordinary officers from the Capitol Police Force who were caught up in the riot.

The lawsuit has been extensively reported by the Washington Post and other news organisations, featuring the statements made in the federal case by officers James Blassingame and Sindey Hemby, with details of their horrific experiences and the injuries they suffered.

The suit states that Officer Hemby was “attacked relentlessly, bleeding from a cut less than an inch from the eye. He had cuts and abrasions on the face and hands and his body was pinned against a large metal door, fending off attacks”.

“The threats and attacks on Officer Blassingame seemed endless,” the suit states. “Then, a surge of insurrectionists pushed forward and slammed Blassingame against a stone column ... He struck his spine and the back of his head and was unable to move.” The police officer, who is black, said that he “lost count” of the number of times he was called the N-word.

Both officers blame Trump’s inaction for their physical and psychological trauma. The lawsuit adds: “For several hours after the mob stormed the Capitol, Trump had the continuing ability to issue statements through traditional and social media but refused.”

Trump’s lawyers have yet to respond to the lawsuit.