Trump accused of inciting invasion of U.S. Capitol
“Only the Federal Assembly has the authority to decide on qualifications to run.”
Federal Supreme Court, state Supreme Court disqualification invalidated
Trump gains momentum: “Victory for America”… Some say, “There are concerns about conflict over congressional approval even if elected.”
The U.S. Supreme Court made a decision on the 4th (local time) to maintain former President Donald Trump’s eligibility to run for president. It invalidated the Colorado Supreme Court ruling that disqualified former President Trump from running for president this November on charges of inciting the storming of the U.S. Capitol in January 2021 by supporters who objected to the results of the 2020 presidential election (participation in an insurrection).
This ruling came a day before Super Tuesday, when 16 U.S. states, including California and Texas, hold simultaneous primaries to elect presidential candidates. The Supreme Court’s ruling removed a major obstacle preventing former President Trump from running for president. Former President Trump is expected to continue his landslide victory on Super Tuesday and secure the majority of Republican delegates needed to confirm his presidential nomination as early as the 12th.
In its ruling that day, the Federal Supreme Court said, “Implementation of Article 14, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (which prohibits those who participated in the rebellion from running for public office) is the authority of the Federal Congress,” and “The Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling cannot be maintained.” Previously, in December of last year, the Colorado Supreme Court disqualified former President Trump from running in the Republican presidential primary in Colorado by applying this constitutional provision that stipulates that public officials who participated in civil unrest cannot hold public office again. Former President Trump, who was dissatisfied with this decision, appealed to the Supreme Court, resulting in this ruling.
The Supreme Court ruled that only Congress, not state governments or state courts, has the authority to determine eligibility for federal office. This means that there must be legislation at the federal Congress level to limit the right of federal public officials to be elected. The ruling on this day also invalidated the rulings of Maine and Illinois, which disqualified former President Trump from running for president for reasons similar to those of Colorado.
This ruling was made public as a unanimous ruling by nine Supreme Court justices. This means that Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elina Kagan, and Kirtanji Brown Jackson, who are classified as progressives, ultimately sided with former President Trump.
However, four justices, including three progressive Supreme Court justices and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who was directly appointed by former President Trump while he was in office, expressed a minority opinion that the ruling that restrictions on the right to be elected by federal public officials can only be stipulated by a statute of the Federal Congress is excessive. The Supreme Court did not rule on the charge of participation in an insurrection, which was the core basis for the Colorado Supreme Court’s ban on former President Trump’s eligibility to run.
Accordingly, concerns are raised that this ruling could cause further political chaos. The Associated Press pointed out, “If Congress is the only body that can determine presidential candidate qualifications, if former President Trump wins the November presidential election, ratifying the presidential election results in January next year could become a nightmare.” This means that during the approval by the National Assembly, which has been evaluated as a formality, the losing party can vote against it in large numbers, and the resulting conflict and antagonism are as obvious as fire.
Former President Trump welcomed the verdict on social media immediately after the ruling, saying it was a “big victory for America.” Then, in a speech in Florida, he argued, “(The Supreme Court) should grant full immunity to presidents.” The intention is that he should receive complete immunity from all four criminal charges.
Former President Trump is close to being confirmed as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate. He also took first place in the North Dakota state caucus (party convention) on the same day, beating his rival, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
The prevailing view is that former President Trump will win a landslide victory in the ‘Super Tuesday’ primary on the 5th. The number of delegates assigned on this day was 854, or about 35% of the total 2,429. If he, who has already secured 273 delegates, sweeps on the 5th and then wins the primary on the 12th in four states, including Georgia, with 161 delegates at stake, it is possible to achieve the ‘magic number’ (a majority of delegates, 1,215).
Washington =
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.