The Colorado Supreme Court is removing former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot, saying he is ineligible to be president.

In a stunning and unprecedented decision, the Colorado Supreme Court removed former President Donald Trump from the stateā€™s 2024 ballot, ruling that he isnā€™t an eligible presidential candidate because of the 14th Amendmentā€™s ā€œinsurrectionist ban.ā€

ā€œEven when the siege on the Capitol was fully underway, he continued to support it by repeatedly demanding that Vice President (Mike) Pence refuse to perform his constitutional duty and by calling Senators to persuade them to stop the counting of electoral votes.

ā€œPresident Trumpā€™s direct and express efforts, over several months, exhorting his supporters to march to the Capitol to prevent what he falsely characterized as an alleged fraud on the people of this country were indisputably overt and voluntary.ā€

Ratified after the Civil War, the 14th Amendment says officials who take an oath to support the Constitution are banned from future office if they ā€œengaged in insurrection.ā€ But the wording is vague, it doesnā€™t explicitly mention the presidency, and has only been applied twice since 1919.

We have full confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will quickly rule in our favor and finally put an end to these unAmerican lawsuits,ā€ Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.

Chief Justice Brian Boatright, one of the three dissenters on the seven-member court, wrote that he believes Colorado election law ā€œwas not enacted to decide whether a candidate engaged in insurrection,ā€ and said he would have dismissed the challenge to Trumpā€™s eligibility.

LINKS

AP: Colorado Supreme Court bans Trump from the stateā€™s ballot under Constitutionā€™s insurrection clause | @negativenull@startrek.website

Washington Post: Donald Trump is barred from Coloradoā€™s 2024 primary ballot, the state Supreme Court rules | @silence7@slrpnk.net

CNBC: Colorado Supreme Court disqualifies Trump from 2024 ballot, pauses ruling to allow appeal | @return2ozma

NBC News: Colorado Supreme Court kicks Donald Trump off the stateā€™s 2024 ballot for violating the U.S. Constitution. | 18-24-61-B-17-17-4

CNN: Colorado Supreme Court removes Trump from 2024 ballot | A Phlaming Phoenix

CNN:Colorado Supreme Court removes Trump from 2024 ballot based on 14th Amendmentā€™s ā€˜insurrectionist banā€™ | @Boddhisatva

New York Times: Trump Is Disqualified From the 2024 Ballot, Colorado Supreme Court Rules | @silence7@slrpnk.net

  • Olhonestjim@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    Ā·
    10 months ago

    If Trump wins the election, he becomes a dictator. Right now, the Supreme Court revels in nearly-unchecked power. A dictator would threaten their power. Therefore, it would not makes sense for the Supreme Court to oppose Coloradoā€™s decision.

    • Octavio@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      Ā·
      10 months ago

      Iā€™m not convinced that they revel in or even desire unchecked power. To me they seem more like order-takers, willing to do the bidding of the oligarchs as long as the RVs and yacht rides keep flowing. And the oligarchs themselves seem to be operating under the assumption that they will be able to control Dictator Trump.

    • Anti-Face Weapon@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      Ā·
      10 months ago

      Is a very interesting perspective. Iā€™m not sure how itā€™s true it is, but I think that time will tell. Thank you for sharing your opinion!