The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to address the issue of Donald Trump's ineligibility in connection with a Colorado decision that would bar the former president from appearing on the ballot in that state.
• Also read: Trump Financial Fraud Trial: New York State Demands $370 Million
• Also read: Twenty countries donated millions to Trump's estate when he was president
The Supreme Court was directly involved in a highly political matter and, with a conservative majority, announced that it would consider the case on February 8th.
Until she makes her decision, ballots in Colorado must continue to contain Donald Trump's name, as well as in Maine, another state that has made a similar decision.
Donald Trump, the heavy favorite in the Republican primary for next November's presidential election, on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court, which he has largely overhauled, to take up the matter.
In late December, the Colorado Supreme Court and then the Maine Secretary of State made the decision to bar Donald Trump from running in the Republican primary in those states, a historic decision.
In both states, officials believed the Republican billionaire could not return to the White House, ruling that the Republican had committed “acts of insurrection” during the 2021 attack on the Capitol and that he was therefore ineligible under the 14th state the presidency is in question amending the constitution.
This amendment, passed after the American Civil War, exempts from public liability anyone who engages in acts of “rebellion” or “insurrection” after taking an oath to defend the Constitution.
In this context, does this amendment apply to Donald Trump? That is the burning question the court must answer.
According to Donald Trump and his lawyers, if Colorado's decision is upheld, it would be “the first time in American history that the legal system has prevented voters from casting their ballot for the leading candidate of a major party.”
In their opinion, this competence lies solely with the power of Congress.
Mr. Trump's lawyers also argued in their motion that Section 3 of the amendment does not apply to him as president, that January 6 was not an “insurrection” and that the tycoon “did not in any way participate in an insurrection.”
On January 6, 2021, hundreds of Donald Trump's supporters violently stormed the Capitol, the shrine of American democracy, to prevent the certification of his opponent Joe Biden's victory.
Donald Trump and his most ardent supporters are still disputing the results of the 2020 election without evidence.