Ohio couple files $30M lawsuit saying they were injured when booted from a Trump midterm rally

An Ohio couple has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit seeking $30 million in damages after alleging they were violently assaulted and ejected from one of President Donald Trump’s political rallies in Youngstown, according to new court documents.The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Youngstown, names Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, the City of Youngstown, event security company Ironwood LLC, Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene and four unidentified sheriff’s deputies as defendants.The plaintiffs, identified in the complaint as John and Jane Doe, allege that the defendants violated their constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure and infringed upon their First Amendment right to free speech, NBC affiliate WFMJ reported. The lawsuit further alleges counts of assault and battery.The lawsuit stems from an October 12 event at the Covelli Centre, where the couple was attending a rally featuring the president. According to the complaint, the incident began when John Doe disrupted an address by Husted, vocalizing his opposition regarding congressional actions surrounding late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.John Doe shouted “Pedophile protector!” at the stage, claiming that congressional leaders were attempting to block the release of files related to the Epstein investigation, according to WFMJ. Jane Doe joined her husband in expressing dissent, though the complaint does not detail her specific statements.A couple is seeking $30 million in damages after claiming they were violently assaulted and ejected from one of President Donald Trump’s rallies in Youngstown, Ohio (AFP/Getty)Security personnel and law enforcement officers then moved to remove the couple from the venue. The complaint alleges that an officer approached John Doe from the side and “violently grabbed his head and neck and slammed him on the ground.” The physical confrontation resulted in John Doe’s glasses breaking and damage to his cell phone before he was “dragged” out of the facility, according to the filing.Jane Doe claims in the filing that officers “assaulted and violently” removed her when she attempted to intervene to protect her husband. The complaint alleges that Husted continued his remarks from the podium without requesting that security personnel stop the removal.The lawsuit states that security workers and law enforcement staff “berated and verbally attacked the Does” during the process. The couple also alleged a lack of immediate medical attention following the altercation.The incident began when John Doe disrupted an address by Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, vocalizing his opposition regarding congressional actions surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to the complaint (Getty)A subsequent medical examination this week resulted in diagnoses for John Doe of a head injury and cervical sprain, with providers recommending follow-up treatment. The filing notes that John Doe is disabled, vision-impaired and asthmatic, and states that both plaintiffs “continue to suffer severe, traumatic injury, including, but not limited to, physical and mental harm and damage to family property.”Following the rally, the couple filed initial incident reports with the East Canton Police Department, despite the event taking place within Youngstown municipal limits.The lawsuit, assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Benita Pearson, requests preliminary and permanent injunctions, $5 million in compensatory damages, $25 million in punitive damages and reimbursement for legal costs.A protester is removed from the venue while Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio, on October 12 (AFP/Getty)In an emailed response to WFMJ regarding the litigation, Greene, the Mahoning County sheriff, defended the actions of his staff. “I am aware of the filing of this lawsuit,” Greene said. “I am extremely confident that my Deputies acted appropriately and followed the law. As this is now ongoing litigation, I am advised to not make any further comment.” The incident is the second ejection from the October 12 rally to draw scrutiny. Sheriff Greene previously initiated an internal review into a separate video recording that showed deputies removing another attendee, identified as Blake Miley. Miley was allegedly assaulted by a crowd member after revealing a shirt reading “Release the Epstein files.” Civil rights attorney Subodh Chandra announced he was representing Miley, though no formal lawsuit has been initiated.