Former President Donald Trump, who faces legal challenges in 16 states seeking to exclude his name from the 2024 ballot, has garnered support from over two dozen state attorneys general. A total of 27 attorneys general jointly filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, expressing their endorsement of the former president.
The U.S. Supreme Court decided to address the eligibility issue following the Colorado State Supreme Court’s ruling in December, declaring Trump ineligible for the 2024 election ballot. Subsequently, Maine also barred Trump from their 2024 ballot.
Colorado and Maine based their decisions on the belief that Trump violated the sedition/insurrection clause outlined in the 14th Amendment. Trump contends that he has not been found guilty of sedition or insurrection by the Jan. 6 Select Committee or any court. He argues that his statements regarding the election are protected under the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech.
Repub AGs, incl Kentucky’s, petition SCOTUS to overturn Colorado decision to block Trump from ballot
— ForwardKY (@ForwardKy) January 8, 2024
Kentucky AG was one of 26 Republican AGs filing the amicus brief.https://t.co/3H3ATsakBE
Trump contends that his actions are safeguarded by the “immunity” traditionally associated with the office of the President.
In response to the State Supreme Court’s ruling, the Colorado GOP Board has appealed, and this week, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to render a decision on the matter.
The amicus brief, jointly filed by attorneys general from 27 states, provides a substantial boost to Trump and his legal team as they prepare for oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court. The brief urges the Court to “prevent state courts from usurping Congress’s exclusive power.”
Citing James Madison, one of the founding fathers, the brief emphasizes that he believed it was inconceivable for the federal judiciary to decide a presidential election. It criticizes the Colorado Supreme Court for not only making an error but also intruding into an area where courts have traditionally been hesitant to intervene.
Strongly asserting that upholding the Colorado ruling would lead to chaos, the brief argues, “Voters who may wish to cast their ballots for former President Trump cannot know whether he ultimately will be excluded from the ballot in their State or others.” It warns that many Americans may believe that a few partisan actors have manipulated the political decision-making process, undermining ordinary voters.
Concluding, the brief asserts that the Colorado Supreme Court has thrust itself into a “political thicket,” and it is now the responsibility of the U.S. Supreme Court to address the situation definitively to prevent further deterioration.
An update from @DaveYostOH on the amicus brief that 27 state attorneys general filed in support of former President Donald Trump’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court following his removal from Colorado’s presidential primary ballot. pic.twitter.com/qPVjHgYLFj
— Family Research Council (@FRCdc) January 8, 2024
According to legal analysts on Fox News, the U.S. Supreme Court is anticipated to overturn the Colorado ban. This decision is expected to result in the dismissal of the bans in Maine and the 16 ongoing cases, all of which are spearheaded by Democrats.
