The Colorado Supreme Court delivered a significant blow to former President Donald Trump's 2024 presidential aspirations by ruling against his appearance on the state's ballot.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, is based on a Civil War-era clause in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits officials who have engaged in "insurrection" from holding office.
The court's majority cited Trump's actions during and related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol siege as grounds for disqualification.
The ruling stated, "A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution."
Steven Cheung, Trump's campaign spokesperson, expressed outrage at the ruling and accused the court, composed of all-Democrat appointees, of partisanship and attempting to interfere in the election.
He described the decision as "deeply undemocratic" and announced plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Cheung's statement emphasized the perceived bias against Trump, saying, "Democrat Party leaders are in a state of paranoia over the growing, dominant lead President Trump has amassed in the polls." He accused them of trying to protect Biden's presidency by denying Colorado voters the right to choose their preferred candidate.
The Colorado Supreme Court's decision, which passed with a 4-3 vote, is temporarily on hold until January 4, pending the appeal. The ruling rejects Trump's free-speech claims and outlines the court's reasoning for considering his actions as participation in an insurrection.
The court's majority opinion stated that Trump's conduct during the Capitol riot, including his repeated demands to Vice President Pence and calls to Senators to halt the electoral vote count, amounted to "overt, voluntary, and direct participation in the insurrection."
This ruling marks a critical moment in Trump's political career and highlights the ongoing legal and constitutional challenges facing his potential candidacy. The upcoming appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court will be closely watched as it may set a precedent for similar actions in other states and have significant implications for the 2024 presidential race.
