A Texas jury has determined that a man from San Antonio breached the Ku Klux Klan Act during a civil trial that lasted two weeks. This case revolved around a “Trump Train” rally in Central Texas, which harassed a bus carrying Joe Biden and Kamala Harris along one of the state’s busiest roadways in October 2020.

The jury’s obligation was to assess whether the actions of those in the Trump Train convoy amounted to political intimidation, which is prohibited by federal law.

The seven jurors ruled that Eliazar Cisneros, a chef and Navy veteran, must compensate the bus driver, Tim Holloway, with $10,000 in damages. Additionally, they imposed $30,000 in punitive damages against Cisneros, which will be distributed among the plaintiffs. However, the jury did not hold five other co-defendants—two couples and a retired singer—liable in this case.

The plaintiffs included former state Senator Wendy Davis, known for her notable 15-hour filibuster against an abortion restriction bill in 2013; a member of Biden’s campaign team; and the driver. They testified during the trial that the 90-minute ordeal on October 30, 2020, on Interstate 35 caused them significant anxiety and insomnia for months afterwards.

During the incident being litigated, about 30 vehicles adorned with Trump flags surrounded the campaign bus in San Antonio. For over 90 minutes, these vehicles swerved, braked suddenly, honked, and yelled at the bus’s passengers, forcing it to move as slowly as 15 mph in a 70 mph zone, creating a hazardous situation, as indicated by a police expert.

The plaintiffs’ lawyers provided evidence proving that Cisneros orchestrated the plan to “escort” the bus, with assistance from friends Jason Peña and Edward Niño in spreading the word. However, Peña and Niño were not involved in the initial legal complaint.

This verdict is a historical moment as it is the first instance where a jury has found a defendant liable under the advocacy clauses of the 1871 Klan Act, which aims to prevent intimidation, harassment, threats, or violence to deter political involvement.

Notably, the jury did not hold any of the defendants accountable for charges related to civil assault and civil conspiracy—additional claims made by the plaintiffs.

After the verdict, both parties presented their perspectives as wins. Joeylynn Mesaros, one of the co-defendants, expressed her belief that the judicial system had been misused against her, stating she was relieved that the jury recognized this and delivered justice.

Mesaros articulated, “We have felt hunted, like animals in a cage, misrepresented, and we are eager to return to a sense of normality.” She mentioned accumulating nearly $300,000 in attorney fees, emphasizing their 14-year-old son and the lost time they experienced. “We just want to embrace feeling like ordinary people again,” she said.

Mesaros noted the importance of not using the Ku Klux Klan Act as a tool to silence individuals based on emotional distress during sensitive times.

While Cisneros chose not to comment, his lawyer, former U.S. Representative Francisco “Quico” Canseco, announced plans to appeal the verdict.

Throughout the proceedings, the defendants maintained that they were exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly on the highway. While they acknowledged their behavior became rowdy, they insisted their actions should be interpreted as typical fan enthusiasm. They argued they did not aim to impede the bus’s movement or campaign activities, but rather to protest, criticizing the plaintiffs for not pursuing legal action against more aggressive drivers.

Defense lawyers also highlighted the working-class backgrounds of their clients, stressing that the trial has taken a toll on their financial resources.

The trial concluded after two emotionally intense weeks, showcasing the connections between the defendants’ political beliefs and their Christian faith, both on and off the witness stand. When questioned about social media posts calling Democrats “demonic” and “anti-God,” defendants Steve and Brandi Ceh affirmed their opinions.

During prayer gatherings at the courthouse on Monday, part-time pastor Steve Ceh and stay-at-home mom Joeylynn Mesaros urged jurors to understand “the truth,” criticized “socialists,” and promised to persist in their struggle.

“God, we ask that this oppression cease and that this church flourishes,” Ceh prayed to the group gathered in the courthouse hallway. “We should never give up or back down from this battle.”

While testifying, Cisneros passionately expressed his belief that Democrats were “ruining the country” and insisted he needed to defend the American lifestyle, not just during the Trump Train events but also in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021.

“It’s unfortunate that these people’s political views are on trial,” remarked Jason Greaves, an attorney for the Ceh family.

Hannah, the Cehs’ daughter, and her spouse Kyle reached a settlement last year, during which they apologized for their actions.

“I apologize to the individuals on the bus for my role in the events that day that may have scared or intimidated them,” she stated in a released statement alongside the settlement.

The verdict from Monday follows a settlement reached by the plaintiffs with San Marcos over the city’s failure to provide police escort for the bus. In that lawsuit, they claimed the police violated the KKK Act by ignoring their requests for help and noted that records showed officers laughing about the bus passengers. The city agreed to pay $175,000 to settle the case in November 2023.

Trial revealed issues with Trump Train convoy organization and execution

Due to the events, the campaign had to cancel a planned San Marcos stop and eliminated the scheduled conclusion of the “Battle for the Soul of the Nation” tour in Austin, as indicated by communications from that day.

The plaintiffs, who include Davis, former Biden staff member David Gins, and bus driver Timothy Holloway, testified that they felt threatened and suffered from anxiety, depression, insomnia, or all together for several months after the event.

The plaintiffs did not bring lawsuits against the several drivers who obstructed the bus’s path, as many of the defendants either stayed behind the bus or kept their distance during the highway incident.

Protect Democracy, a nonprofit organization based in Washington that opposes authoritarianism, along with the Texas Civil Rights Project and Willkie, Farr and Gallagher, LLP, filed the lawsuit on behalf of the plaintiffs in June 2021.

High-profile conservative attorneys defended the case, including former U.S. Representative Francisco “Quico” Canseco and Greaves, who also represented Trump adviser Michael Flynn in a case aimed at overturning the 2020 election results in Georgia, as well as having defended Trump in multiple election fraud lawsuits. Each defendant had individual representation.

The plaintiffs are aiming to recover their attorneys’ fees in this case, which might exceed $1 million. The decision on whether they will be awarded these fees lies with U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman.