A week before the US Supreme Court hears arguments on whether former President Trump's involvement in the 2021 assault on the Capitol disqualifies him from the presidency, the electoral board in Illinois decided on Tuesday to keep the former president on the state's primary ballot. The board ruled unanimously after its hearing officer, a Republican retired judge, concluded that there is "preponderance of the evidence" that Trump is unqualified to run for president due to his violation of the constitution's restriction on those who "engaged in rebellion" from holding public office (AP). However, the hearing officer suggested that the board leave the final judgment up to the courts.
The eight-member board—four of whom are Democrats and four of whom are Republicans—agreed with its attorney's advice to allow Trump to stay on the ballot, ruling that it lacked the jurisdiction to decide whether or not he had broken the US Constitution. Before casting her vote, board member Catherine McCrory said, "I want it to be known that this Republican feels that there was an uprising on January 6." I have no doubts that on January 6, he planned, orchestrated, supported, and encouraged an uprising." McCrory concurred, however, that the board lacks authority to impose such ruling. It is anticipated that an appeal will be made.
The US Supreme Court will hear arguments in Trump's appeal of a Colorado verdict that declared him ineligible for the president next week, presumably resolving the overarching issue at a higher court. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was enacted in 1868 to prohibit former Confederates from holding public office after the Civil War, has seldom been used since. The nation's top court has never rendered a decision in a case involving this provision. According to some legal experts, Trump's involvement in the effort to rig the 2020 election qualifies him under the post-Civil War clause. Section 3 excluding Trump from the president has been the subject of dozens of lawsuits filed around the nation. The only one that was successful in court was the Colorado lawsuit.
The eight-member board—four of whom are Democrats and four of whom are Republicans—agreed with its attorney's advice to allow Trump to stay on the ballot, ruling that it lacked the jurisdiction to decide whether or not he had broken the US Constitution. Before casting her vote, board member Catherine McCrory said, "I want it to be known that this Republican feels that there was an uprising on January 6." I have no doubts that on January 6, he planned, orchestrated, supported, and encouraged an uprising." McCrory concurred, however, that the board lacks authority to impose such ruling. It is anticipated that an appeal will be made.
The US Supreme Court will hear arguments in Trump's appeal of a Colorado verdict that declared him ineligible for the president next week, presumably resolving the overarching issue at a higher court. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was enacted in 1868 to prohibit former Confederates from holding public office after the Civil War, has seldom been used since. The nation's top court has never rendered a decision in a case involving this provision. According to some legal experts, Trump's involvement in the effort to rig the 2020 election qualifies him under the post-Civil War clause. Section 3 excluding Trump from the president has been the subject of dozens of lawsuits filed around the nation. The only one that was successful in court was the Colorado lawsuit.
