Colorado Says Trump Can’t Run for President in 2024 – Here’s Why”
In a surprising move, Colorado’s Supreme Court has declared that former President Donald Trump cannot run for president in the state’s primary election next year. The court’s decision, based on a constitutional insurrection clause, claims that Trump’s involvement in the Capitol riot nearly three years ago disqualifies him as a candidate.
The ruling, with a close 4-3 vote, applies only to Colorado’s primary election on March 5, where Republican voters choose their preferred presidential candidate. However, it might impact the general election in Colorado next November. This marks the first-ever use of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify a presidential candidate.
Trump’s campaign plans to appeal the decision to the US Supreme Court, criticizing it as “completely flawed.” The court’s ruling is on hold until next month pending the appeal. While this decision only affects Colorado, it could set a precedent for other states.
The controversy stems from the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, where Trump supporters stormed Congress during the certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory. The Colorado Supreme Court argues that Trump’s messages before the riot were a “call to his supporters to fight,” and his supporters responded accordingly.
This ruling does not take effect until January 4, 2024, on the eve of the deadline for the state to print its presidential primary ballots. Trump’s legal team intends to file a swift appeal to the US Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a majority.
The decision has sparked reactions from both Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats seeing it as support for the insurrection argument and a chance to highlight differences between Trump and Biden. Republicans, including Trump’s primary rivals, condemn the decision, viewing it as a partisan attack.
As this unfolds, it adds another layer of complexity to Trump’s political future, already facing legal challenges in Georgia related to alleged election subversion efforts. Stay tuned for updates on this evolving story.
Source: BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67768873