Liberal group in Michigan sues to keep Trump off ballot, citing 14th Amendment
Former President Donald Trump speaks at the California Republican Party Convention Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A liberal group on Friday filed a lawsuit to keep former President Trump off the 2024 ballot in Michigan, saying he violated the 14th Amendment and should be banned from being able to participate in the election.
It is the third challenge to Trump’s ballot eligibility after similar actions were filed in Colorado and Minnesota. It was filed by Free Speech for People, the same group behind the Minnesota lawsuit.
The suit argues that because of Trump’s alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the Capitol, he should be disqualified from running for federal office.
The suit also compares Trump to members of Congress that were kicked out of their seats during the Civil War for supporting the Confederacy.
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which is cited in the lawsuit, states that no person shall hold elected office who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States.”
“The insurrection defeated the forces of civilian law enforcement; forced the United States Congress to go into recess… occupied the United States Capitol, a feat never achieved by the Confederate rebellion… and blocked the peaceful transition of power in the United States of America, another feat never achieved by the Confederate rebellion,” the suit reads.
“Donald J. Trump, through his words and actions… engaged in insurrection or rebellion, or gave aid and comfort to its enemies, as defined by Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment,” the group continued. “He is disqualified from holding the presidency or any other office under the United States unless and until Congress provides him relief.”
Trump was impeached by the House following the insurrection, but was not convicted by the Senate. He has also been charged in two criminal cases over his efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election to President Biden — one in Washington, D.C., and a second case in Georgia.
Both of those criminal cases allege that Trump formulated a scheme to overturn the results of the election by using fake Electoral College votes. The federal case also cites his perceived actions ahead of the Capitol riot.
A group of New Hampshire lawmakers urged their state’s election chief to prevent similar 14th Amendment arguments for their 2024 ballot, calling the attempts an “absurd conspiracy theory.”
Trump himself dismissed the attempts earlier this month.
“Almost all legal scholars have voiced opinions that the 14th Amendment has no legal basis or standing relative to the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.