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A jury in Washington has ordered David Walls Kaufman to pay half a million dollars to the widow of Officer Jeffrey Smith
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who took his own life days after the January 6th attack on the Capitol
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The jury found Walls Kaufman civilly liable for assaulting Officer Smith during the riot
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The verdict includes $380,000 in punitive damages and another $120,000 for compensation and pain
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Smith's widow claimed her husband suffered a concussion after Walz Kaufman hit him in the head, leading to a brain injury and severe depression
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Nine days later, Smith died by suicide. His wife sued for wrongful death, but a judge dismissed that claim before the jury weighed in
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Walz Kaufman denies hitting Smith. His attorneys say the video is unclear, there are no direct witnesses, and Smith's medical records never mention an assault
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In 2023, Walz Kaufman pleaded guilty to entering the Capitol illegally and served 60 days in jail
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Prosecutors said he was among the first to breach the rotunda doors and tried to push into the Speaker's lobby where lawmakers were hiding
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He was pardoned by President Trump after his return to the White House, along with nearly 1,600 others
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That pardon cleared him of federal criminal charges, but not civil liability
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For Straight Hour News, I'm Kaylee Carey. For more news, download the Straight Hour News mobile app today
