Donald Trump can no longer run for presidential elections in 2024

In a landmark decision, the Colorado Supreme Court voted 4-3 to remove former US President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 presidential ballot, invoking the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban," according to a report by CNN.

Although the ruling is specific to Colorado, it is expected to have far-reaching implications for the upcoming 2024 presidential campaign. The decision, which is currently on hold until January 4, awaits Trump's appeal to the US Supreme Court. The outcome of this appeal could potentially settle the matter nationwide.

Colorado election officials emphasize the urgency of resolving the issue by January 5, the statutory deadline for finalizing the list of candidates for the GOP primary scheduled for March 5.

The majority opinion, delivered without a signature, stated, "President Trump did not merely incite the insurrection. Even when the siege on the Capitol was fully underway, he continued to support it by repeatedly demanding that Vice President (Mike) Pence refuse to perform his constitutional duty and by calling Senators to persuade them to stop the counting of electoral votes. These actions constituted overt, voluntary, and direct participation in the insurrection."

The court rejected Trump's free speech claims, asserting, "President Trump's speech on January 6 was not protected by the First Amendment."

The 14th Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, prohibits officials who have engaged in insurrection from holding future office. While the wording is somewhat vague and doesn't explicitly mention the presidency, it has only been applied twice since 1919.

Notably, all seven justices on the Colorado Supreme Court were appointed by Democratic governors. Six of them subsequently won statewide retention elections, while the seventh, appointed in 2021, is yet to face voters, according to CNN.

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