Colorado Supreme Court removes Trump from state’s 2024 ballot
In a stunning and unprecedented decision, the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled to remove former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot. The court cited the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban” as the basis for their ruling, in a 4-3 vote.
The decision is expected to be put on hold until January 4, pending Trump’s appeal to the US Supreme Court. This appeal could have far-reaching implications for the 2024 presidential campaign.
The majority opinion of the Colorado Supreme Court stated, “President Trump did not merely incite the insurrection,” and went on to explain that his actions constituted overt, voluntary, and direct participation in the events of January 6.
The court also rejected Trump’s free speech claims and noted that his speech on January 6 was not protected by the First Amendment.
The ruling, which only applies to Colorado, has already sparked strong reactions from both the Trump campaign and GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The Trump campaign has stated that they will “swiftly file an appeal” to the US Supreme Court, while Ramaswamy called the decision an “actual attack on democracy” and “election interference.”
It is worth noting that all seven justices on the Colorado Supreme Court were appointed by Democratic governors, fueling concerns of partisanship in the ruling.
Trump, who denies wrongdoing regarding January 6, is under federal and state indictment in connection with attempts to overturn the 2020 election, and has pleaded not guilty.
The court’s decision may have far-reaching effects on the 2024 presidential campaign, and the subsequent appeal to the US Supreme Court could have profound implications for Trump’s eligibility in the upcoming election. This story is breaking and will be updated as it develops.