Election lawyer Ron Fein brought a strong case before Minnesota’s Supreme Court on November 2, questioning whether former President Donald Trump is eligible to run for president. He argued that Trump should be considered disqualified from the presidential ballot unless he gets congressional forgiveness for his alleged role in the January 6, 2021 insurrection.
Fein’s point centered on the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits individuals engaged in insurrection from seeking public office.
During the hearing, Fein admitted it’s highly unlikely that Congress would grant amnesty to Trump. To get amnesty, both the House and the Senate would need a two-thirds majority vote in favor.
Fein emphasized that Trump hadn’t formally asked for amnesty yet and pointed out that courts usually avoid deciding purely hypothetical issues, saying, This court has said that it does not decide questions that are purely hypothetical.
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In summary, Fein’s main argument was that Trump’s ability to be on the presidential ballot depends on Congress granting him amnesty.
This legal debate highlights the national discussion around Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021 events when a group of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, marking a significant moment in American history and raising questions about accountability and political consequences for those involved.