Several radical progressive legal groups are attempting to keep former President Donald Trump off of the ballots of several states in the 2024 election.
Those groups have filed lawsuits to force secretaries of state to remove Trump from the ballot next year based on a section of the 14th Amendment, which they claim provides the authority to do so.
The groups argue that the 14th Amendment keeps those who incited or took part in an insurrection can't hold future office.
According to the Washington Examiner, the issue is playing out in Minnesota at the state's Supreme Court level. High court Minnesota justices are apparently split on the issue.
"Let’s say we agree with you that Section 3 is self-executing and that we do have the authority under the relevant statute to keep Mr. Trump’s name off the ballot," Chief Justice Natalie Hudson said.
She added, "'Should we?' is the question that concerns me the most."
The Examiner noted:
While some of the justices were less convinced by this argument, there was also some openness to the challengers' request to hold future hearings to consider the obscure constitutional questions behind the underlying case arguments.
Ron Fein, legal director at the Free Speech For People advocacy group, who backs the Minnesota voters who filed suit, demanded that the state's Supreme Court "uphold the U.S. Constitution and defend American democracy," calling on Trump's removal from the ballot.
He and others like him believe Trump was responsible for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
"Beginning before the 2020 election and culminating on Jan. 6, 2021, Donald Trump engaged in rebellion and insurrection against the Constitution of the United States in a desperate attempt to remain in office after losing the election," Fein said.
The activist added, "Section 3 of the 14th Amendment protects the Republic from oath-breaking insurrectionists because its framers understood that if they’re allowed back into power, they will do the same or worse."
🚨 BREAKING: An effort to disqualify Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot in 2024 has reached the Minnesota Supreme Court.
The case states that Trump is ineligible to return to the White House under the 14th Amendment, which bars anyone who "engaged in insurrection or… pic.twitter.com/RoHjvd2jpR
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) November 3, 2023
Reid LeBeau, a lawyer representing the Republican Party of Minnesota, argued against the idea of removing Trump from the ballot, saying it would violate the "state GOP's First Amendment right to choose their own candidate to align with."
Another legal battle regarding the matter is currently playing out in Colorado.
Many don't believe the efforts will go any further.
