DENVER — A court of Colorado ruled this Friday that former President Donald Trump cannot participate in the state’s electoral primaries in 2024 because, according to the Supreme Court of that state, he is “disqualified” to be in charge of the presidency of the United States.
The decision by a court whose justices were appointed by Democratic governors marks the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate.
Former President Donald Trump’s spokesman denounced what he described as an “undemocratic” decision in Colorado, and announces they will appeal to the Supreme Court
“A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from the presidential office under the third section of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution,” the Colorado Supreme Court ruling says.
Ticket withdrawal
“Because he is disqualified, it would be an erroneous act under Colorado state election code to appear as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot.”
The Colorado Supreme Court removed him from the state’s presidential primary ballot, setting the stage for the nation’s highest court to decide whether the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination can remain in the race.
The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which established citizenship and civil rights in the late 19th century, also barred Americans from running for office if they participated in an insurrection.
The court’s decision derives from the lawsuit made by a group of voters who brought up the alleged participation of former President Trump in the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 with a view to removing him from the state race.
The court will keep the effects of its decision suspended until January 4, or until the federal Supreme Court rules on the case.
Trump’s lawyers had promised to immediately appeal any disqualification to the federal Supreme Court, which has the final say in constitutional matters.
This decision applies only to the state of Colorado, but could affect his 2024 presidential campaign, in which he starts as the favorite of the Republican Party despite the various court dates he has scheduled.
“Wrong decision”
Donald Trump’s spokesman denounced this Tuesday the “undemocratic” decision of the Colorado Supreme Court, which considers that the former president cannot run for the White House and disqualifies him for the primaries in the state.
“The Colorado Supreme Court this afternoon issued a completely erroneous decision and we will quickly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court and a simultaneous request to stay this deeply undemocratic decision,” Steven Cheung said in a statement.
Source: With information from AFP and AP
