Republicans appeal Trump's withdrawal from Colorado election
Former U.S. President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
Colorado Republicans have filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court after the state's highest court ruled that Donald Trump is not eligible to run for president. For now, the politician will remain on the ballot for the primary elections (the so-called "primaries") in this state, reports ВВС.
In their appeal, the Colorado Republican Party's legal team accused the state Supreme Court of "fundamentally changing the course of American democracy." They argue that the decision will "distort" the 2024 presidential election and "mire courts henceforth in political controversies over nebulous accusations of insurrection." Trump's team is also preparing an appeal against the ruling.
Colorado is the only U.S. state that has removed Trump from the ballot based on the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It prohibits persons involved in "insurrection or rebellion" from holding public office. This is the first time the amendment has been applied since the U.S. Civil War.
Similar lawsuits to remove the Republican leader from the ballot in Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Michigan failed.
Elections in the United States
The next presidential election in the United States is scheduled for November 5, 2024.
According to forecasts, the main candidate for the Democrats will be the current American leader Joe Biden, and for the Republicans - former President Donald Trump.
On December 20, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump, in accordance with the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, cannot participate in the primaries in the state. The reason is his "participation in an insurrection against the United States," which the court recognized as the storming of the Capitol by the politician's supporters in early January 2021.
The court's decision ordered the Colorado Secretary of State to exclude Trump from the March 5 GOP primary in the state. However, this does not prevent the politician from running in other states.
Trump's team has filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court. The hearing is scheduled for January 4, 2024. The court's decision is likely to be applied throughout the country.
Criminal cases against Donald Trump
Trump's campaign to win the Republican nomination will be complicated by a number of criminal trials.
More than 90 criminal charges have been filed against the politician in several cases: a $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels, an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, misuse of classified information after he left office, and other charges.
In addition, Trump may be held civilly liable for the actions of those who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
