Former President Donald Trump Faces Lawsuit Seeking to Bar Him from Running for Presidency Again
DENVER (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is embroiled in a legal battle as attorneys representing him moved a lawsuit, which seeks to prevent him from running for the White House again, from state to federal court. This initial step sets the stage for a contentious legal fight that is expected to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
The liberal watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), filed the lawsuit in a Colorado state court on Wednesday. Their argument is based on a Civil War-era clause that prohibits individuals who took an oath to the Constitution and later engaged in “insurrection” from holding higher office. According to CREW, this clause effectively bars Trump from seeking presidency in 2024.
The state judge in Denver initially assigned to the case recused himself, citing an undisclosed conflict of interest. Subsequently, Trump’s legal team moved to have the case transferred to federal court. Their reasoning lies in the assertion that the lawsuit raises a constitutional issue, which should be adjudicated at the federal level. While the plaintiffs will argue for the case to be returned to state court, both sides anticipate that the matter will ultimately reach the highest echelons of the federal judiciary.
The lawyers representing Trump argue that the challenge to Colorado’s ability to include him on the presidential ballot hinges on the interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment. In their motion, they stated, “Trump’s basis for removal of the state court action is federal question jurisdiction under Section 3 of Fourteenth Amendment.”
CREW’s lawsuit is the first in a series of anticipated challenges filed by the group and Free Speech for People, another liberal nonprofit, in various states. Though activists in different states have already filed lawsuits representing themselves, legal experts believe that the more robust complaints by these nonprofits have a higher likelihood of eventually reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. Notably, the Supreme Court has never ruled on the clause in question.
Responding to the lawsuit, Trump criticized CREW and accused it of being associated with his critics and people he clashed with during his presidency. On his newly launched social media network, called Truth Social, Trump referred to the group as “TRUMP DERANGED CREW” and claimed that it was “ridiculously” and “Unconstitutionally” trying to disqualify him.
CREW has announced its intention to request a federal judge to return the case to state court. Additionally, they have requested an expedited ruling on the matter before Colorado’s Republican primary ballot is finalized on January 5th. This legal battle is expected to be closely watched as it could have far-reaching implications for Trump’s potential candidacy in the 2024 presidential election.