Colorado Judge Denies Trump's Bid To Dismiss Lawsuit, Paving Way For 2024 Candidacy Trial

Ex-President Donald Trump’s fifth attempt to dismiss a Colorado lawsuit, which seeks to block his potential candidacy for the 2024 presidential race citing the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban,” has been denied by a Colorado judge, setting the stage for an unprecedented trial.

What Happened: As reported by CNN, Colorado District Judge Sarah Wallace ruled on Wednesday in favor of the trial, which is set to begin next week. The trial will delve into whether Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021, insurrection disqualifies him from running for president in the future.

The lawsuit, one of many aimed at hindering his potential candidacy under the 14th Amendment, marks the fifth unsuccessful attempt by Trump to have the Colorado case dismissed. The 14th Amendment, which was ratified after the Civil War, prohibits U.S. officials who have pledged to uphold the Constitution from holding office in the future if they were involved in an insurrection or provided assistance to insurrectionists. The method of enforcing this ban is not specified in the Constitution and has only been invoked twice since the 1800s.

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Judge Wallace, in her 24-page decision, refuted Trump’s argument that his eligibility concerns should be addressed by Congress and not the courts. She also dismissed his claim that Colorado election officials don’t have the power to enforce the “insurrectionist ban” stipulated in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

Wallace concluded that states have the authority to apply Section 3 under state laws without federal enforcement legislation. The upcoming trial will focus on key issues such as whether the events of January 6th constituted an insurrection and if Trump played any role in it. Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing related to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges arising from his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. His campaign has described these lawsuits as “absurd,” alleging that the groups initiating these candidacy challenges are “stretching the law beyond recognition.”

Why It Matters: This trial marks a significant event in the ongoing battle over Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 presidential race. According to a previous report, the case was initiated by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), representing a bipartisan group of Colorado voters.

The lawsuit focuses on Trump’s alleged involvement in the January 6 events, leveraging Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify him from future office. As earlier reported, this case could pose a serious threat to Trump’s 2024 presidential ambitions.

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