Jamie Raskin to revive legislation to block Donald Trump from office under 14th Amendment

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Jamie Raskin has announced his efforts to reintroduce legislation aimed at removing Donald Trump from the ballot due to his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack following the US Supreme Court's decision to lift the former President's ballot ban in Colorado, reported the New York Post.

In a conversation with CNN after the top court's ruling, the Maryland lawmaker said, "In any event, the Supreme Court punted and said it's up to Congress to act."

"I am working with a number of my colleagues, including Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Eric Swalwell, to revive legislation that we had to set up a process by which we could determine that someone who committed insurrection is disqualified by Section 3 of the 14th Amendment," he added.

On Monday, March 4, the SCOTUS overturned the Colorado Supreme Court's decision barring Trump from the state ballot. In a unanimous decision, the apex court justices ruled states hold no constitutional power to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, adding Congress is responsible for implementing the clause against federal officeholders and candidates.

Rep Jamie Raskin voices disagreement with SCOTUS interpretation

Raskin, a Harvard Law School alumna, emphasized that he disagreed with the Supreme Court's interpretation of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, claiming other parts of the amendment are "self-executing."

"The House of Representatives already impeached Donald Trump for participating in insurrection by inciting it," Raskin said, adding, "The question is whether Speaker Mike Johnson would allow us to bring this to the floor of the House."

Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for a second time in January 2021 for allegedly inciting the Capitol attack. However, the Senate fell short of convicting him. According to some legal experts, if the upper chamber had not acquitted the ex-president, he would have been prohibited from running for office again.

Besides Colorado, Maine, and Illinois also barred the White House hopeful's candidacy from state ballots, citing the Disqualification clause, which states, "No person shall…hold any office, civil or military, under the United States…[who] shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."

Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate his victory, labeling the Supreme Court decision a "BIG WIN FOR AMERICA!!!"

Following his landslide victories in primaries and caucuses so far, the recent being in North Dakota, the GOP frontrunner is expecting victories in Super Tuesday primaries on March 5, taking place across 15 states and the unincorporated territory of American Samoa. His only defeat was in the Washington DC primary to opponent Nikki Haley.

Internet reminds Donald Trump not convicted of insurrection

Netizens opposed Rep. Raskin's move to remove Trump from ballots, pointing out he was never convicted over insurrection charges.

One user wrote "I guess Trump has nothing to worry about. He wasn't charged or convicted of insurrection."

"Trump would still be on the ballot. He was never convicted of insurrection," remarked another individual.

A user stated, "Unfortunately for Raskin, Trump has already been exonerated in the Senate, who did not convict him for an alleged insurrection. To try him again in any way for that would be double jeopardy. Sorry, Democrats!"

"Who has been charged with insurrection??? Not one person to date!!!" another user pointed out.

One person said, "He may want to try getting the man charged with insurrection first. Hard to disqualify him for insurrection if you don’t convict him of it ."

"Good since no one’s been charged much less convicted of insurrection, it’s a bill that applies to nothing to anyone living in this entire United States," someone else opined.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.