{"id":2612156,"date":"2026-06-08T19:32:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T23:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pardoned-mpd-officers-sue-us-say-doj-made-them-scapegoats\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T19:41:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T23:41:02","slug":"pardoned-mpd-officers-sue-us-say-doj-made-them-scapegoats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pardoned-mpd-officers-sue-us-say-doj-made-them-scapegoats\/","title":{"rendered":"Pardoned MPD officers sue US, say DOJ made them scapegoats"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpardoned-mpd-officers-sue-us-say-doj-made-them-scapegoats%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2612156&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Two Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department officers-Terence Sutton and former officer Lt. Andrew Zabavsky-pardoned by President Donald Trump after fatal 2020 pursuit convictions were overturned-have filed a civil lawsuit against the U.S. in federal court.<\/p>\n<p>They allege that during the Biden administration, federal prosecutors maliciously pursued the case for political reasons amid anti-police unrest following the death of Karon Hylton-Brown, and that they were wrongly targeted as scapegoats. The suit seeks damages for malicious prosecution, false arrest, and false imprisonment.<\/p>\n<p>The complaint argues prosecutors portrayed the stop\/pursuit as an unlawful incident (including focusing on a purported minor traffic issue) rather than a lawful investigative effort based on details that Hylton-Brown may have been involved in gang-related violence. It also challenges the legal basis for serious charges, including Sutton\u2019s murder conviction theory, and contends investigators concealed or minimized evidence of Hylton-Brown\u2019s gang ties and criminal history.<\/p>\n<p>The filing also highlights the role of specific FBI and DOJ agents named in the complaint, claims they significantly influenced charging and trial decisions, and points to statements by Trump-era <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">pardon attorney<\/a> Ed Martin describing the prosecution as \u201cbogus.\u201d The officers\u2019 convictions were vacated after Trump\u2019s January 2025 full pardons, and DOJ later moved to dismiss. The officers are now seeking compensation for lost wages,legal costs,reputational damage,emotional distress,and the time spent fighting the case.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EXCLUSIVE \u2014<\/strong> Two <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/page\/2\/\">Washington, D.C.<\/a> Metropolitan Police Department officers pardoned by President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> after being convicted in a fatal 2020 police pursuit have sued the United States, alleging the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> under former President Joe Biden maliciously prosecuted them to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bondi-and-patel-named-in-retribution-lawsuit-by-ex-fbi-officials\/\" title=\"Bondi and Patel named in &#039;retribution&#039; ... by ex-FBI officials\">satisfy political demands<\/a> during a period of intense anti-police unrest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MPD Officer Terence Sutton and former officer Lt. Andrew Zabavsky <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/document\/1048689202\/MPD-Officers-Sue-U-S-Over-Fatal-Pursuit-Prosecution?_gl=1*1hu1c4b*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTU0MDIzMTYyNi4xNzgwOTU0MTM3*_ga_Z4ZC50DED6*czE3ODA5NTQxMzYkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODA5NTQxNDYkajUwJGwwJGgw*_ga_8KZ8BV0P5W*czE3ODA5NTQxMzYkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODA5NTQxNDYkajUwJGwwJGgw\">filed the civil lawsuit<\/a> Monday in federal court in Washington, seeking damages for malicious prosecution, false arrest, and false imprisonment. The officers contend federal prosecutors pursued a politically motivated case against them following the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2069428\/dc-police-officers-charged-over-deadly-moped-pursuit\/\">2020 death of Karon Hylton-Brown<\/a>, a 20-year-old moped rider who was fatally struck by a civilian vehicle while fleeing police in Northwest Washington. Their convictions were vacated after Trump issued <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3296586\/trump-pardons-dc-officers-convicted-police-chase-death-case\/\">full pardons<\/a> and the DOJ moved to dismiss the indictments early last year.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4599536\/trump-pardoned-mpd-officers-sue-us-over-fatal-pursuit-prosecution\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump-pardoned MPD officers sue US over fatal pursuit prosecution<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4599631\/todd-blanche-attorney-general-nomination-senate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>White House sends Todd Blanche attorney general nomination to Senate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4599539\/trial-date-soldier-maduro-raid-bet-polymarket\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Judge sets trial date for soldier accused of profiting $400,000 on Maduro raid<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Washington Metropolitan Police Department officers block the streets around the White House during an investigation of a suspicious vehicle, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Washington. (Alex Brandon\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cToday, we filed a lawsuit against the United States on behalf of Officers Terence Sutton and Andrew Zabavsky of the Metropolitan <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/police-and-law-enforcement\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"401\">Police Department<\/a> for malicious prosecution and false arrest,\u201d a spokesperson for Holtzman Vogel, which represents the officers, said in a statement. \u201cThese officers were unfairly scapegoated and deserve compensation.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lawsuit does not name any defendants other than the U.S., but specifically mentions federal officials. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\">FBI<\/a> Special Agents Luke Brunot and Jynika Craig and DOJ Special Agents Sean Ricardi and Mark Fitzgerald are among the officials who allegedly drove the investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ricardi, whom the complaint identifies as the lead special agent on the case, is accused of helping secure the indictment, testifying before the grand jury, assisting prosecutors throughout the trial, and influencing major decisions in the prosecution.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Federal prosecutors previously argued Sutton conducted an unauthorized pursuit that culminated in Hylton-Brown\u2019s death and that Sutton and Zabavsky later helped conceal the circumstances surrounding the incident. A federal jury convicted Sutton of second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice, while Zabavsky was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction. Sutton received a 66-month prison sentence, and Zabavsky was sentenced to 48 months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The officers\u2019 lawsuit presents a sharply different account.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the complaint, Sutton and Zabavsky were members of MPD\u2019s Crime Suppression Team assigned to Kennedy Street, an area the lawsuit notes DOJ itself later described as a hub of violent gang and drug activity linked to the Kennedy Street Crew. The officers say they attempted to stop Hylton-Brown after receiving information from another officer that he had been involved in a gang-related dispute earlier that day and appeared to be driving around the neighborhood looking for someone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The complaint describes Hylton-Brown as a validated gang member with 21 prior arrests, including arrests involving firearms, armed robbery, and drug offenses. It argues prosecutors concealed or minimized evidence about his criminal history and gang affiliation while portraying him as someone who was stopped over minor traffic violations. The lawsuit alleges investigators repeatedly advanced the narrative that officers pursued Hylton-Brown for riding a moped without a helmet rather than because they suspected he was involved in gang violence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The suit further alleges that federal authorities relied on a novel legal theory to charge Sutton with second-degree murder, arguing his actions constituted \u201cdepraved heart\u201d murder because the pursuit allegedly violated MPD policy. The officers contend that investigators ignored legal precedent and evidence showing they were attempting to conduct a lawful investigative stop. The complaint also challenges the obstruction charges, arguing that there was never a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >viable underlying federal civil rights offense<\/a> for the officers to obstruct.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much of the complaint also focuses on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sources-missouri-ag-stopped-working-on-probe-into-zuckbucks\/\" title=\"Sources: Missouri AG &#039;Stopped Working On&#039; Probe Into &#039;Zuckbucks&#039;\">political environment surrounding<\/a> the prosecution. Hylton-Brown\u2019s death sparked days of protests outside MPD\u2019s Fourth District station during a period of nationwide unrest following <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/george-floyd\/\">George Floyd\u2019s<\/a> death in the summer of 2020. The complaint alleges federal officials came under pressure to hold officers criminally responsible and ultimately chose Sutton and Zabavsky as convenient targets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lawsuit repeatedly cites statements from Trump\u2019s pardon attorney, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4443498\/ed-martin-remain-doj-pardon-attorney-after-reported-demotion\/\">Ed Martin<\/a>, who served as acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia at the start of Trump\u2019s second term before U.S. Attorney <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeanine-pirro\/\">Jeanine Pirro<\/a> was ultimately confirmed for the job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martin described the prosecution as a \u201cbogus charge,\u201d said the officers had been \u201cwrongfully convicted,\u201d and argued that the prior administration \u201cchose politics over police\u201d in the aftermath of the 2020 unrest. The plaintiffs contend those statements amounted to an acknowledgment by senior DOJ leadership that the prosecution lacked a proper legal basis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump issued full pardons to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/executive-grant-of-clemency-for-terence-sutton\/\">Sutton<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/01\/executive-grant-of-clemency-for-andrew-zabavsky\/\">Zabavsky<\/a> in January 2025. Their convictions were subsequently vacated, and the DOJ moved to dismiss the indictments. Both men were later reinstated to MPD, though Zabavsky has since retired.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4597401\/how-thune-overcame-trump-roadblock-fund-ice\/\">HOW THUNE OVERCAME A TRUMP-SIZED ROADBLOCK TO FUNDING ICE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is not immediately clear whether the officers are seeking a negotiated settlement from the Trump DOJ or intend to litigate the case fully. The lawsuit arrives as the administration has settled several other claims involving alleged government misconduct, including a $1.25 million settlement with former national security adviser <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4503684\/doj-settles-with-michael-flynn-wrongful-prosecution\/\">Michael Flynn<\/a>, a $1 million settlement involving anti-abortion activist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncregister.com\/cna\/catholic-father-whose-home-was-raided-at-gunpoint-wins-7-figure-settlement-from-u-s-government\">Mark Houck<\/a>, and a nearly $5 million settlement with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3415938\/ashli-babbitt-family-reaches-settlement-almost-5-million\/\">family of Ashli Babbitt<\/a>, who was killed by Capitol Police during the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/january-6\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"226\">Jan. 6, 2021<\/a>, protests.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sutton and Zabavsky are seeking compensation for lost wages, legal expenses, reputational harm, emotional distress, and the years they spent defending themselves against what they describe as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-trump-jr-blast-ny-ag-letitia-james-for-political-persecution-this-is-banana-republic-stuff\/\" title=\"Trump, Trump Jr. Blast NY AG Letitia James For \u2018Political Persecution\u2019: \u2018This Is Banana Republic Stuff\u2019\">politically motivated prosecution<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EXCLUSIVE &#8211; Trump-pardoned MPD officers sue U.S. over fatal pursuit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2612157,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26012711304086.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7076,4585,81042,28362,81043],"class_list":["post-2612156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-doj","tag-lawsuit","tag-mpd-officers","tag-pardoned","tag-scapegoats"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26012711304086.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2612156"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2612160,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2612156\/revisions\/2612160"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2612157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2612156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2612156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2612156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}