<p>Two former Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officers, Terence Sutton and Andrew Zabavsky, have filed a civil lawsuit against the United States, claiming malicious prosecution, false arrest, and false imprisonment. The officers were pardoned by former President Donald Trump after being convicted in a fatal 2020 police pursuit involving Karon Hylton-Brown, a 20-year-old moped rider who died during the incident.</p>
<p>The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, alleges that the Justice Department, under former President Joe Biden, pursued the case against them for political reasons amid heightened anti-police sentiment. Sutton and Zabavsky argue that they acted within the law while attempting to stop Hylton-Brown, who they claim was involved in gang-related activity.</p>
<p>They contend that federal prosecutors misrepresented the facts of the case, including Hylton-Brown's criminal history, and that the charges against them were based on a novel legal theory that misapplied the law. The officers are seeking damages for lost wages, legal fees, reputational harm, and emotional distress.</p>
<p>The lawsuit does not name specific defendants beyond the U.S. government but mentions several federal officials involved in the prosecution. The officers' convictions were vacated after Trump issued pardons in January 2025, and the DOJ moved to dismiss the indictments.</p>
