They did: 42 USC 1983. ( https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1983 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1983 ). It technically only applies to actio

They did: 42 USC 1983. ( https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1983 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1983 ). It technically only applies to actions by state by state (or local) officials, not federal, though SCOTUS created an equivalent for federal actions known as Bivens ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bivens_v._Six_Unknown_Named_Agents https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bivens_v._Six_Unknown_Named_Ag... ). However, SCOTUS has also limited both with the doctrine of qualified immunity. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_immunity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualified_immunity )