Former President Donald Trump waves to the crowd during a campaign rally on September 25, 2023.Photo:Sean Rayford/Getty
Sean Rayford/Getty
The Colorado Supreme Court has disqualifiedDonald Trumpfrom the state’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.
The decision to remove the former president from the ballot was based on Section 3 ofthe U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which disqualifies individuals who have “previously sworn an oath to support the Constitution” and have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from office.
“A majority of the court holds that [former] President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Because he is disqualified, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Colorado Secretary of State to list him as a candidate of the presidential primary ballot,” the state Supreme Court said in itsopinionon Tuesday.
Stock image of a voting booth.Getty
Getty
The court said the decision stays until January 4, a day beforethe state’s ballot certification deadlinefor the March 5 presidential primary election. The 4-3 decision was the first time the constitutional clause was used to disqualify a presidential candidate, per theAssociated Press.
It overturns aNovember ruling from District Judge Sarah B. Wallace, which allowed Trump to stay on the state’s ballot but determined he “engaged in insurrection” duringthe deadly January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riots, which saw thousands of pro-Trump rioters storm the building.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on August 24, 2023.Joe Raedle/Getty
Joe Raedle/Getty
In a statement toCBS News, Trump campaign spokesman Steve Cheung said the decision would be appealed.
“The Colorado Supreme Court issued a completely flawed decision tonight and we will swiftly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court and a concurrent request for a stay of this deeply undemocratic decision. 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,” his statement read.
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According to the outlet, cases challenging Trump’s candidacy have been filed in more than 25 states, including Michigan and Minnesota.
source: people.com
