USA (Washington Insider Magazine)— In an unusual and historic Colorado Supreme Court ruling, Trump can’t contest the 2024 elections. The former president is ruled out from the ballot over his position in the January 6 Capitol riots. On Tuesday, In a 4-3 decision, the panel said Mr Trump could be removed from the state’s GOP ballot under the 14th Amendment. It also makes Donald Trump ineligible for the US presidency. He was involved in the January 2021 assault on the Capitol.
Trump’s associates said they will appeal against the ruling. It also drew quick condemnation from Republicans. They claimed it was a political persecution. However, The recent ruling only involved the Colorado primary ballot. It is the first action across the country to invoke the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment successfully.
“A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the Colorado high court wrote.
Further, they contended that because he is disqualified, it would be an illegal act under the Election Code for the Colorado Secretary of State to list him as a nominee on the presidential primary ballot. “We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” the 4-3 majority wrote.
“We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favour, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach,” it added.
Numerous lawsuits have also been filed to disqualify Trump from running for president in particular states. Courts in Michigan, Florida, and New Hampshire have discharged similar lawsuits earlier. The Minnesota Supreme Court has also denied a disqualification case. However, a past ruling by a lower court declared that Trump had assisted the January 6 riot.
On January 6, 2021, a mass of Trump supporters attacked the US Capitol. It was aimed at stopping Congress from approving Joe Biden’s election victory. This came after Trump prematurely declared victory and apparent voter fraud. In a speech on the riot day, Trump encouraged his supporters to march on the Capitol. A US Congressional committee figured that Trump was accountable for the Capitol riots.
Noah Bookbinder of the campaign group Citizens From Whasinton has lauded the ruling, calling it “a huge moment for democracy.” He is the one who bought the original case. “It is not only historic and justified but is necessary to protect the future of democracy in our country. “Our Constitution clearly states that those who violate their oath by attacking our democracy are barred from serving in government,” he added.
The court also held its ruling until January 4. It expects an appeal to the US Supreme Court. Trump’s campaigners already said they would pursue it.
“We will swiftly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court and a concurrent request for a stay of this deeply undemocratic decision,” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.
Cheung said the “all-Democrat appointed” panel in Colorado was doing the bidding of a “(George) Soros-funded, left-wing group’s scheme to interfere in an election on behalf of Crooked Joe Biden.” “Democrat Party leaders are in a state of paranoia over the growing, dominant lead President Trump has amassed in the polls. “They have lost faith in the failed Biden presidency and are now doing everything they can to stop the American voters from throwing them out of office next November.”
The judgment got quick denunciations from senior Republicans. It includes Trump’s rival for the 2016 nomination, Senator Marco Rubio. “The US has put sanctions on other countries for doing exactly what the Colorado Supreme Court has done today,” he wrote on social media.
On the other hand, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running against Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, said the US Supreme Court “should reverse” the Colorado ruling. “The Left invokes ‘democracy’ to justify its use of power, even if it means abusing judicial power to remove a candidate from the ballot based on spurious legal ground,” he said.