Donald Trump in court victory after plan to block presidential election bid crushed
Donald Trump in court victory after plan to block presidential election bid crushed
Reuters
Donald Trump has been handed a major court victory after detractors plotted to block him from being listed as a candidate in the next election.
Trump, 77, was given yet another electoral lifeline last week when Minnesota’s Supreme Court ruled against a petition seeking to disqualify him from the Republican Party primary ballot.
Trump was unable to win the North Star State’s 10 electoral colleges in either 2016 or 2020.
WATCH HERE: Trump storms out of courtroom
Michigan, Colorado and New Jersey courts have also been considering whether to disqualify the 45th President over his alleged role in inciting the January 6 insurrection.
The Great Lake State granted Trump another boost after the Wayne County judge rejected the argument that election officials have the right to determine the 14th Amendment eligibility.
The 14th Amendment prohibits candidates with its so-called insurrection clause.
The clause, introduced in the aftermath of the Civil War, blocks former officers from holding office again if they “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” or gave “aid or comfort” to those who did.
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Donald Trump in courtReutersHe later encouraged supporters to “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard” as protesters went on to march towards Congress.
Ending his speech, Trump added: “We fight like hell and if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore.”
More than 1,100 people were charged, five people died and at least 138 police officers were injured during the incident.
Jocelyn Benson, who serves as Michigan’s Secretary of State, said: “Two months ago, I made clear that under Michigan law, anyone generally advocated by the national news media to be a candidate for the Republican or Democratic nomination for president is listed on the ballot for the February 2024 primary unless a court rules otherwise.”
Benson added: “Accordingly, today, as required by statute, we are publicly posting the names of the candidates who qualify under Michigan law to be listed on the ballot as a candidate for president in their respective party’s primary.
“Barring a court order, these candidates will be included on Michigan’s presidential primary ballot in 2024 unless they withdraw their names from consideration.”
The decision will now go to the courts, with insiders suggesting there is “understandable reluctance” about removing political choice in 2024.
Michigan could prove essential to Trump’s 2024 chances, with the former President hoping to become just the second Commander-in-Chief to serve two non-consecutive terms in the Oval Office.
Trump narrowly won the Rust Belt swing state in 2016 but lost to Joe Biden four years later.
Despite facing a number of legal obstacles, Trump is narrowing Biden’s advantage with a recent opinion poll giving the 46th President a knife-edge lead over his predecessor.
The same survey, which produced state-by-state results, suggested Trump is currently poised to win the next election by the smallest margin since George W Bush’s win against Al Gore in 2000.
However, the survey will likely encourage Trump’s campaign team as it suggested he would flip Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin back into the Republican column.
It also indicated Trump could become the first GOP candidate since 2004 to win in Nevada.
Trump is facing a plethora of legal challenges ahead of the next election, with several potentially resulting in jail time if he is convicted.
However, there is no constitutional measure which would block the 45th President from running for the Oval Office from behind bars.
Socialist Eugene Debbs received more than 900,000 votes while being banged up at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary.