In a historic move, the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled to exclude former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 Republican primary ballot, asserting a violation of the insurrectionist clause outlined in the 14th Amendment. The 4-3 decision, led by Democratic-appointed justices, marks the first instance of utilizing the Constitution’s ‘insurrection clause’ to disqualify a presidential candidate.
The court determined that Trump’s involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack and his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election constituted clear evidence of engaging in insurrection. Despite the district court’s previous ruling, deeming the constitutional provision ambiguous on barring presidential candidates, the Colorado Supreme Court firmly stated that Trump is ineligible for the presidency under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
While the decision has the potential to be appealed, Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, expressed confidence in appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, labeling the legal proceedings as “unAmerican lawsuits.” Republican National Committee Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel echoed the sentiment, denouncing the ruling as ‘election interference’ and vowing to contest it in court.
The legal battle was initiated by the Washington, D.C.-based group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, representing six Colorado voters. The lawsuit highlighted Trump’s role in the Capitol attack and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The court, emphasizing that Trump’s January 6 speech did not fall under First Amendment protection, concluded that he engaged in insurrection, rendering him disqualified under Section 3.
Acknowledging the gravity of the decision, the court stayed its ruling until January 4, allowing time for potential appeals. The Democratic-appointed judges emphasized their duty to apply the law without bias, aware of the significance of the questions at hand.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Trump’s campaign spokesperson criticized the lawsuit as a ‘Soros-funded, left-wing group’s scheme,’ attributing it to Democrats’ concerns over Trump’s growing popularity. Eric Trump predicted a boost in his father’s poll numbers, while Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy volunteered to withdraw from the Colorado GOP primary in protest.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the plaintiffs celebrated the decision, describing it as historic and necessary to safeguard democracy. CREW President Noah Bookbinder emphasized that the ruling affirms Trump’s disqualification based on his role in the Capitol attack, asserting the need to protect the future of democracy.
One of the plaintiffs, Norma Anderson, a former Republican Colorado House and Senate leader, expressed satisfaction with the decision, emphasizing the importance of upholding the right to free and fair elections and ensuring voters choose eligible candidates.
Written by
Derek Chan – Editor
