In a major victory for free speech, a federal jury in Texas cleared most Trump supporters accused of causing emotional distress to passengers aboard a Biden-Harris campaign bus during the 2020 election. The plaintiffs had alleged that the Trump Train convoy engaged in voter intimidation and reckless behavior, but the jury rejected these claims.

Five of the six defendants were found not liable. The only exception was Eliazar Cisneros, who was ordered to pay $10,000 in compensatory damages and $30,000 in punitive damages due to a minor collision with a Biden campaign SUV. Despite this ruling, Cisneros plans to appeal, maintaining that the campaign’s SUV was driving recklessly and caused the crash.

The trial, which centered on free speech and political expression, became a critical legal battleground. Defendants Joeylynn Mesaros and Steve and Randi Ceh emphasized that the lawsuit was an attempt to silence political dissent. Mesaros argued that the incident was blown out of proportion by the media and the Biden campaign, as the Trump Train event was largely peaceful.

Mesaros likened the treatment of herself and the other defendants to the legal attacks against President Donald Trump, claiming that political bias played a role in the case. “This was an attempt to suppress free speech by labeling it as voter intimidation,” Mesaros said. She added that her family has accrued over $75,000 in legal fees due to the trial.

This case sets a significant precedent for political speech as the country approaches the 2024 election. The defendants’ victory is seen as a win for those advocating for the right to express political views, especially in the face of legal challenges meant to suppress dissent.

The jury’s decision reinforces the protection of free speech, reminding Americans that political discourse—even when heated—must be safeguarded as a core value in the democratic process.