In a new development, a petition has been filed by five voters in Illinois, aiming to prevent former President Donald Trump from appearing on the Republican primary election ballot in March.
The petition argues that Trump is ineligible for office due to his alleged encouragement and insufficient action to prevent the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
Constitutional Challenge: Petition Claims Trump’s Actions Violate 14th Amendment, Citing Capitol Attack
Similar petitions have been filed in more than a dozen states, and this particular effort relies on the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
The amendment prohibits individuals from holding office if they have previously taken an oath to defend the Constitution and later “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the country or provided “aid or comfort” to its enemies.
The 87-page document, signed by five individuals from various parts of the state, builds a case asserting that Trump, after losing the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden, played a role in inciting his staunch supporters who subsequently attacked the Capitol on the day Congress certified the election results. The violent riot resulted in five deaths and over 100 injuries.
Colorado and Maine have already taken steps to exclude Trump’s name from their primary election ballots. Trump, in response, has sought intervention from the US Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling in December, which removed his name from the state’s ballot.
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Illinois Election Board Delays Hearing on Trump Petition
As of Thursday afternoon, the Illinois State Board of Elections had not scheduled a hearing for the petition.
According to spokesperson Matt Dietrich, the board is set to address 32 other objections to the proposed ballot at its upcoming meeting on January 11.
The outcome of these proceedings will play a crucial role in determining whether Trump’s name will feature on the Illinois Republican primary election ballot in March.
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