Trump’s Capitol Role Backfires: Colorado Court Rules Against Presidential Ballot Eligibility

Washington: The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s March 5 Republican primary ballot and likely the Nov. 5 general election.

This decision, a first in U.S. history, cites a rarely used provision of the Constitution, barring officials engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” from holding office. The case, brought by Colorado voters with support from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, alleges Trump’s role in instigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack to obstruct the transfer of power to President Joe Biden.

While Trump’s campaign vows to appeal, the court’s decision focuses on the 14th Amendment’s Section 3, enacted post-Civil War, and overturns a lower court ruling.

Trump’s lawyer argued that his remarks were protected by free speech, and the riot didn’t qualify as insurrection. Advocates view this as a broader effort to disqualify Trump, potentially reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. The ruling, stayed until Jan. 4, 2024, emphasizes the historic nature of holding a former president accountable for actions undermining democracy.