Former US President Donald Trump must be barred from running for the White House in the state, according to the Colorado Supreme Court. The court announced its spectacular decision, which is likely to be appealed by Trump. It can be assumed that the question will ultimately have to be clarified by the country’s highest court, the Supreme Court.
The background is that various plaintiffs in various US states are trying to remove Trump’s name from ballot papers for the 2024 presidential election. The 77-year-old wants to move into the White House again for the Republicans. His opponents argue with a constitutional amendment that excludes people from elections who have incited an “insurrection” against the constitution.
Storming of the US Capitol
Trump supporters stormed the parliament building in Washington on January 6, 2021. Congress met there to formally confirm Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election. Trump had previously incited his supporters during a speech. As a result of the riots, five people died.
The court in Colorado has now ruled that Trump’s name should not appear on the ballot papers for the primary elections in the state and that he is barred from holding office as president. However, the court suspended its decision until shortly before the ballots were printed in early January or until possible clarification by the Supreme Court.
Plaintiffs in other states failed
The plaintiffs against Trump had already failed in states such as Michigan and Minnesota – the Republican was also able to initially record a victory in a lower court in Colorado. However, the judge wrote back then: “The Court concludes that Trump acted with the specific intent to incite political violence and direct it against the Capitol in order to disrupt the certification of the election results.”
However, the judge concluded that the clause in the Constitution explicitly does not refer to the presidency – and Trump can therefore remain on the ballot for the Republican primary in Colorado. The Supreme Court there now saw things differently.
