As former President Donald Trump contemplates a potential 2024 White House run, a web of legal challenges unfolds, with the Colorado Supreme Court dealing a significant blow by ruling him ineligible for the presidency due to his alleged role in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
In a pivotal 4-3 decision, the Colorado Supreme Court cited Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, the insurrection clause, to declare Trump ineligible, asserting that he incited an insurrection during the Capitol storming, a claim vehemently denied by Trump. The ruling excludes Trump from the state’s Republican primary on March 5, potentially influencing the general election in Colorado next November.
While impacting Trump’s candidacy in Colorado, similar attempts in Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Michigan to remove him from the ballot have failed. The legal landscape remains complex, and the Colorado decision does not prevent Trump from running in other states.
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During a week-long trial in Colorado, Trump’s legal team argued against disqualification, asserting that he bore no responsibility for the Capitol riot. In response to the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, Trump’s campaign promptly declared an appeal to the US Supreme Court.
Trump’s legal spokeswoman, Alina Habba, labeled the ruling an assault on democracy and expressed confidence in the Supreme Court overturning the decision.
“It will not stand, and we trust that the Supreme Court will reverse this unconstitutional order,” said Habba.
The Colorado Supreme Court has temporarily stayed its ruling until at least January 4. If Trump chooses to appeal, this stay will persist until the US Supreme Court intervenes. Legal experts predict the high likelihood of the Supreme Court taking up the case, opening the possibility of a nationwide impact on Trump’s eligibility.
With a conservative majority of 6-3, including three justices appointed by Trump himself, the Supreme Court faces a weighty decision. If they opt to hear the case, they could shape the outcome not only in Colorado but also influence Trump’s eligibility across all 50 states. The legal drama surrounding Trump’s candidacy intensifies as the nation awaits the next chapter in this unfolding saga.
