A Colorado judge ruled on Friday Donald Trump is eligible to appear on the state’s primary ballot.

“The lawsuit, brought by a left-leaning group on behalf of a group of Republican and independent Colorado voters, contended that Trump’s actions related to the attack ran afoul of a clause in the 14th Amendment that prevents anyone from holding office who ‘engaged in insurrection or rebellion’ against the Constitution,” the Associated Press reports.

“The Court holds that Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment does not apply to Trump,” the ruling stated.

“The lawsuit in Colorado that was filed by the SOROS funded group @CREWcrew to remove President Trump from the ballot in Colorado was just defeated! Trump will be on the 2024 ballot in Colorado!” investigative reporter Laura Loomer wrote.

CBS News reports:

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold released this statement shortly after the ruling, “The Court determined that Donald Trump is eligible to be placed on the Colorado ballot in the March Presidential Primary. This decision may be appealed. As Secretary of State, I will always ensure that every voter can make their voice heard in free and fair elections.”

Advocates this year have been trying to remove Trump from the ballot in Colorado and other states under Section Three of the 14th Amendment, which bars from office those who swore an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution and then “engaged in insurrection” against it. The measure has only been used a handful of times since the period after the Civil War.

In her decision, Wallace said she found that Trump did in fact “engage in insurrection” on Jan. 6 and rejected his attorneys’ arguments that he was simply engaging in free speech. Normally, that would be enough to disqualify him under Section 3, but she said she couldn’t do so for a presidential candidate.

Section 3 does not specifically refer to the presidency, as it does members of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives. Instead, the clause refers to “elector of President and Vice President,” along with civil and military offices.

“Part of the Court’s decision is its reluctance to embrace an interpretation which would disqualify a presidential candidate without a clear, unmistakable indication that such is the intent of Section Three,” the judge wrote.

“The 14th amendment lawsuits that were filed by groups funded by SOROS in Michigan, Minnesota and now Colorado that were intended to REMOVE President Trump from the 2024 Presidential ballot have all been defeated! President Trump will be on the ballot!” Loomer wrote.

The Associated Press added:

The decision by District Judge Sarah B. Wallace is the third ruling in a little over a week against lawsuits seeking to knock Trump off the ballot by citing Section 3 of the amendment. The Minnesota Supreme Court last week said Trump could remain on the primary ballot because political parties have sole choice over who appears, while a Michigan judge ruled that Congress is the proper forum for deciding whether Section 3 applies to Trump.

 

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