Hearings Begin in Denver as Trump Critics Attempt to Kick Him Off Ballots
A legal battle like no other will begin Monday in Denver, Colorado as a week-long court case delves into whether former President Donald Trump's alleged involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot could bar him from being on the ballot in the state.
The Colorado lawsuit argues that Trump should be barred from running for president again because of his actions after losing the 2020 election, including by pressuring state officials to reverse the results and telling armed supporters gathered near the Capitol ahead of the riot to “fight like hell.”
This unprecedented and historic question is being addressed in two different courtrooms, 900 miles apart, as judges in Minnesota will also hear arguments about a provision in the 14th Amendment that could potentially keep Trump off the ballot there.
The legal strategy, led by both conservatives and liberals, is a first of its kind in an attempt to prevent a presidential candidate from seeking office. While legal experts are divided on the validity of this theory, the plaintiffs in these cases are determined to make their voices heard.
The argument centers around an obscure part of the 14th Amendment that prohibits individuals who have taken an oath to support the Constitution and then engage in an insurrection or provide aid to the nation's enemies from holding office. The amendment was originally created to prevent former Confederate soldiers from rising to power after the Civil War but has rarely been considered since that era.
"This came out of nowhere and has quickly become a potential disruption in the presidential contest," said Kurt Lash, a law professor at the University of Richmond.
Can the 14th Amendment be used to remove Trump from the ballot? Attorney Alan Dershowitz tellS Glenn Beck why he believes any attempt to do so will fail: “It's ABSURD. The framers of the Constitution would have never tolerated something like that."(THE BLAZE)
But Trump has swiftly dismissed these lawsuits as "nonsense" and "election interference," claiming that it is like a "banana republic." He has also pointed out that these lawsuits are a way to undermine the will of the people, who overwhelmingly support him.
The start of the court hearings in Denver on Monday will feature witnesses and legal experts discussing whether the events of Jan. 6th can be classified as an insurrection. The plaintiffs in the Colorado case argue that Trump's actions after the 2020 election, including pressuring state officials and telling his supporters to "fight like hell," constitute an insurrection against the Constitution and disqualify him from holding public office.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold spoke to MSNBC's Jordan Rubin about the lawsuit aiming to keep former President Trump off of the state's ballot in 2024 and his "deafening" silence on it compared to the other cases he is facing. (MSNBC)
On the other side, Trump's attorney, former Colorado secretary of state Scott Gessler, contends that the former president never engaged in an insurrection and that courts do not have the authority to keep him off the ballot. He also argues that the Constitution gives Congress and the Electoral College the exclusive power to determine presidential qualifications.
The Minnesota case, brought by former officials and a county Republican Party co-chair, will also be heard by the state's Supreme Court on Thursday. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court will likely have to rule on this matter if any state decides to bar Trump from running.
READ MORE:
JUDGE REJECTS TRUMP'S ATTEMPT TO DROP COLORADO BALLOT LAWSUIT
COULD COLORADO KEEP TRUMP OFF 2024 BALLOT UNDER SECTION 3 OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT?
LAWSUIT FILED TO BLOCK DONALD TRUMP'S BALLOT ACCESS IN COLORADO
FLORIDA JUDGE REJECTS 14TH AMENDMENT CHALLENGE TO TRUMP CANDIDACY
It is still uncertain how these lawsuits will play out, but they have the potential to cause major disruptions in the upcoming presidential contest.
While some see this as a necessary move to prevent a potential threat to democracy, others believe it could backfire and further inflame tensions. The decisions made by the courts in these cases will have far-reaching implications for the future of American politics.