Staff Reports
The Colorado State Supreme Court made a controversial decision this week, ruling against former President Donald Trump and removing his name from the state’s primary ballots for next year’s election. This move is setting the stage for a potential showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court, as the former President’s campaign has vowed to appeal the decision.
Colorado Supreme Court orders Trump removed from ballot for Jan. 6 ‘insurrection’https://t.co/i2SCO728b3 pic.twitter.com/zAMo3E1trs
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 20, 2023
In a close 4-3 ruling, the Colorado justices asserted that Mr. Trump engaged in an insurrection surrounding the 2020 election. They cited the events of January 6, 2021, when a mob disrupted the Electoral College vote counting, as evidence of Mr. Trump’s involvement in an insurrection. The majority opinion stated that Mr. Trump’s actions disqualified him from holding the presidency under Section Three of the 14th Amendment.
The decision was met with strong dissent from Justice Carlos Samour Jr., who criticized the process used to deny Mr. Trump a spot on the ballot, calling it a “procedural Frankenstein.” The Trump campaign also swiftly denounced the ruling, with a spokesperson accusing the all-Democrat-appointed Colorado Supreme Court of supporting left-wing interference in the election.
Not surprisingly, Republican allies of Mr. Trump in Congress also voiced their opposition to the decision, decrying it as a partisan attack and an attempt to deny citizens the right to support the former President. The ruling has only deepened divisions and sparked outrage among conservatives, with some expressing concerns over the potential chaos that could arise if the decision stands.
In response to the ruling, Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, announced plans to introduce legislation clarifying that the U.S. Supreme Court has the final say in matters concerning the Insurrection Clause. This move is seen as an effort to push back against what many on the right view as left-wing activism and undue pressure on the judiciary to exclude Mr. Trump from the ballot.
The decision by the Colorado Supreme Court has certainly ignited a fierce political battle, with both sides preparing for a prolonged and contentious legal fight that could ultimately shape the future of Mr. Trump’s political aspirations.
