SCOTUS Says ‘Not Now’ to Disqualifying Trump, Leaving Door Open for Another Coup
In a surprise move, the Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge to former President Donald Trump’s eligibility to run for president. The case was brought by a little-known candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, who argued that Trump should be disqualified from running because of his alleged role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
The Supreme Court did not issue a ruling on the merits of the case. Instead, the justices simply said that they would not hear the case. This means that the lower court ruling, which found that Trump was eligible to run, stands.
John Anthony Castro, a tax consultant from Texas seeking the Republican presidential nomination, filed lawsuits against Trump in multiple states to eliminate him from the race, leaning on a post-Civil War provision of the 14th Amendment. The provision says any U.S. official who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution is barred from holding office ever again if they “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” or have “given aid or comfort” to insurrectionists.
“The framers of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment specifically designed it to remove overwhelming popular pro-insurrectionists from the ballot,” Castro told the justices in court filings. “As such, Castro is not simply within the ‘zone’ of interests; Castro is the precise type of person that the framers of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment specifically sought to politically protect while Trump is the precise type of person they sought to disqualify.”
President Trump has not publicly commented on Castro’s lawsuit.
Castro’s petition comes amid several other efforts from left-wing activist groups attempting to use the 14th Amendment to block Trump from appearing on state ballots. But despite the opposition from lawmakers, activists, and Trump detractors, others warn against using the clause against the former president.
Trump's @SCOTUS
U.S. Supreme Court will not hear challenge to Donald Trump’s ballot eligibility. https://t.co/066EBiQC7p
— 🇺🇸 Geo Is Still Pissed 🇺🇦🏳️🌈🏳️⚧🌊🐕🌎🍷🌿 (@Geo_Is_Pissed) October 2, 2023