Trans Inmate Sues Trump Over Alleged Assaults Linked to 'Transphobic' Rhetoric
A transgender inmate in Indiana, serving time for the reckless homicide of a baby, has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, alleging that his ’transphobic’ rhetoric led to multiple assaults in prison.
Jonathan C. Richardson, who identifies as Autumn Cordellioné, claims in a handwritten lawsuit that former President Donald Trump’s ’extremist rhetoric and transphobic hate speech’ incited violence against him within the prison system. Cordellioné alleges that after being transferred from protective custody at New Castle Correctional Facility to Westville Correctional Facility, an all-male prison, he was subjected to brutal assaults and rapes by other inmates and prison staff. The lawsuit claims these attacks were motivated by Trump’s public statements against transgender rights, which Cordellioné argues emboldened his assailants.
The complaint specifically mentions that during the assaults, attackers referenced Trump’s presidency and policies, suggesting they felt protected by his stance on transgender issues. Cordellioné is seeking $3.5 million in compensatory damages from Trump and other defendants, including prison employees and gang-affiliated inmates involved in the alleged attacks. The lawsuit also touches on broader issues, including a previous legal battle over taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries, which Cordellioné had been seeking.
This case highlights ongoing tensions around transgender rights and prison policy, especially in light of executive actions taken by the Trump administration to mandate federal prisoners be housed according to their biological sex and to bar federal funding for sex reassignment surgeries. The Indiana Department of Correction and the broader legal system continue to grapple with these complex issues, as evidenced by recent court orders and ongoing legislative debates.