The Democrat is pushing for legislation to ban Trump from ever holding office – hours after he announced his third run for president
- Democratic Rep. David Cicilline launched legislation that would bar former President Donald Trump from ever taking office again
- The Hill newspaper reported that Cicilline sent a letter to his fellow House Democrats on Tuesday night, giving a preview of upcoming legislation
- “I have drafted legislation that would bar Donald Trump from returning to public office under the Fourteenth Amendment,” Cicilline wrote
- Section 3 “Disqualification Clause” of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits persons from holding office if they are “involved in an insurrection.”
- Trump was impeached in the House of Representatives but acquitted in the Senate of inciting a riot on January 6, 2021
Democratic Rep. David Cicilline launched legislation that would bar former President Donald Trump from ever running for office again, the same night the ex-president announced his 2024 candidacy.
The Hill newspaper reported that Cicilline sent a letter to his Democratic colleagues in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night, presenting a preview of a bill he plans to introduce and asking if anyone would be interested in helping to fund the legislation.
“Given the evidence – demonstrated by the Jan. 6 committee hearings, the 2021 impeachment trial and other reports – that Donald Trump was involved in a Jan. 6 riot with intent to overturn the legitimate 2020 election results, I have Legislation drafted that would prevent Donald from preventing Trump from returning to public office under the Fourteenth Amendment,” Cicilline wrote.
Democratic Rep. David Cicilline launched legislation that would bar former President Donald Trump from ever running for office again, the same night the ex-president announced his 2024 candidacy
Former President Donald Trump announced he would be running for president again Tuesday night from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla
Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment contains the “Disqualification Clause,” which prohibits individuals from holding office if they “have taken part in an insurrection or rebellion against the same, or rendered aid or comfort to their enemies.”
Trump was impeached after he left office for his role as an instigator of the January 6, 2021 uprising – despite the Senate dismissing him. Had the Senate voted to convict Trump, he would not have become president again.
Cicilline told colleagues that the bill contains “testimonies and evidence showing how Donald Trump was involved in an insurgency against the United States,” pointing to the Jan. 6 work of the Democrat-led House of Representatives that likely will be dissolved once Republicans take control of the House.
“It details how Donald Trump engaged in the insurgency when he helped plan and facilitate the January 6 insurgency despite knowing the election results were legitimate; attempted to intimidate state and federal officials when they did not support his false claims and illegal schemes; attempts to manipulate Mike Pence into unlawfully refusing to certify the election results, despite allegations by Mr Pence and his legal advisers that he has no such authority; and supported the violent uprising in the Capitol on January 6, refused for hours to denounce or take action against the mob and put thousands of lives at risk,” Cicilline’s letter read, according to The Hill.
“To make America great and glorious again, today I announce my candidacy for President of the United States,” the ex-President announced about 20 minutes into his speech
Groups in Georgia and North Carolina tried to bar Republican Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Madison Cawthorn from the election in their states using the same legal arguments.
The Republican primary voters in North Carolina did the work for them, ousting Cawthorn after he made a series of controversial statements about drug use and congressional “orgies” in Washington, DC
Greene won her re-election race in Georgia last week.
One problem with using the 14th Amendment, according to the Congressional Research Service, is that the text is vague.
“It is unclear whether Section 3 is self-executing, which would otherwise leave federal and state courts or election officials without authority to determine candidate eligibility unless Congress enacts legislation permitting it,” a CRC said -Report.
Cicilline’s bill would attempt to clarify the process.
Trump announced that he would run for president again Tuesday night from Mar-a-Lago.
“To make America great and glorious again, today I announce my candidacy for President of the United States,” the ex-President announced about 20 minutes into his speech.
“I’m running because I believe the world hasn’t seen the true glory of this nation,” he added.
An attack notice containing footage of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was posted to Democratic President Joe Biden’s personal account almost immediately.