District judge rejects attempt to remove Donald Trump from West Virginia ballot
In a recent development, a district judge in West Virginia has rejected an attempt to remove former President Donald Trump from the state's ballot. The court ruled that the plaintiff lacked standing to sue under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. This legal action is just one of several similar lawsuits across various states arguing that Trump is constitutionally ineligible to be on the ballot due to his alleged involvement in inciting the January 6th insurrection. Notably, the Colorado Supreme Court has already barred Trump from the primary ballot pending an appeal. Maine's Secretary of State is also expected to rule on a similar challenge in the near future.
Joining the conversation is Tom Saviello, a Republican and former Maine State Senator who is leading efforts to prevent Trump from appearing on the ballot in his state. Saviello explained that his decision to pursue this matter arose from his study of the 14th Amendment after the events of January 6th. Noting the historical context of the amendment, which was initially crafted to prevent Jefferson Davis from running for office, Saviello expressed his belief that Trump played a significant role in the insurrection.
Responding to arguments that Trump has neither been criminally charged nor convicted of incitement or insurrection, Saviello cited the language of the 14th Amendment, which does not explicitly require a conviction for individuals to be deemed ineligible for office. Thus, he contends that a lack of criminal charges or convictions should not prevent this case from moving forward.
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The discussion then turned to the division within conservative circles regarding the legal merits of the argument. Former Attorney General Bill Barr was mentioned, who dismissed the notion of Trump's involvement in an insurrection. Barr cited the denial of due process and the absence of charges against Trump related to insurrection or incitement as fatal flaws in the argument. Saviello acknowledged the differing opinions but expressed confidence that the ultimate decision would rest with the U.S. Supreme Court.
The patchwork situation arising from different states adopting varying approaches to this issue was also addressed. Saviello noted that while the states may have different rules on ballot eligibility, the final decision would likely come from the country's highest court. He highlighted the unique aspect of the Maine case, which is being reviewed by the Secretary of State rather than a court, making it distinct from others. Saviello added that regardless of the initial ruling, the case would likely move to the courts in due course.
As the conversation concluded, Saviello revealed that the Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, had called for both sides to present their arguments and prove whether an insurrection had indeed taken place. The decision of the Maine Secretary of State will undoubtedly be closely watched in the coming days. Ultimately, it is expected that the U.S. Supreme Court will have the final say on this matter, providing clarity to the question of Trump's eligibility for the ballot in West Virginia and beyond.
