A former US Attorney General has criticised the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to shun Donald Trump, while outlining just how unprecedented the decision is.
The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that former President Donald Trump is disqualified from holding office and is removed from the state's 2024 ballot.
The historic 4-3 ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, likely to be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court, makes Trump the first presidential candidate deemed ineligible for the White House under a rarely used constitutional provision that bars officials who have engaged in "insurrection or rebellion" from holding office.
Speaking on GB News, Mark Brnovich said the statute held against Trump in the ruling is not being used as it was originally intended.
Mark Brnovich criticised the ruling
GETTY / GB NEWS
“It does not actually mention the president, which I think is very telling”, he said.
“The reality is, that statute has not been used in more than 100 years against someone running for office.
Donald Trump has been disqualified from running in the 2024 Presidential election in ColoradoReuters“It was designed to prevent former confederates or people that were in places like the southern states from basically getting or returning to Congress.”
Farage added: “This is why it was chucked out in Michigan, New Hampshire, Florida, other people tried in states to do this and it has been rejected.”
Brnovich added that he found the ruling, which came about after judges voted 4-3 in favour, “very disappointing”.
“Even with an entirely democratic court, four of the justices on this Colorado Supreme Court thought it was a bad decision”, he said.
“One of the justices pointed out that Trump hasn’t even been indicted or charged or convicted of anything related to insurrection.
“I would remind voters the United States is a constitutional republic, it’s not a majoritarian system.
“The Constitution is designed to protect our rights and liberties, and that 14th Amendment Section three provides basically that if you’re a member of congress, a senator, a member of the military, a state office holder, that if you’re involved in an insurrection, you’re barred from holding office.”
Trump vowed to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Colorado court said it would delay the effect of its decision until at least Jan. 4, 2024, to allow for an appeal.
The ruling sets the stage for the Supreme Court, whose 6-3 conservative majority includes three Trump appointees, to consider whether Trump is eligible to serve another term as president.
Trump's campaign called the court decision "undemocratic”.
"The Colorado Supreme Court issued a completely flawed decision tonight and we will swiftly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court," a spokesperson from the Trump campaign said.