Congress could “disqualify” Donald Trump if the ex-President wins the keys to the White House, a top Democrat has claimed.
Democrat Representative Jamie Raskin claimed the 14th Amendment included provisions to halt Trump’s march to the Oval Office by adopting its “Civil War” provisions.
In unearthed footage first released in February, Raskin said: “And the greatest example going on right now before our very eyes is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which they’re just disappearing with a magic wand, as if it doesn’t exist, even though it could not be clearer what it’s stating.
“And so they want to kick it to Congress, so it’s going to be up to us on January 6, 2025, to tell the rampaging Trump mobs that he’s disqualified.
Democrat vows to ‘disqualify’ Trump if ex-President wins White HouseGETTY“And then we need bodyguards for everybody, and civil war conditions, all because the nine justices — not all of them, but these justices who have not many cases to look at every year, not that much work to do, a huge staff, great protection — simply do not want to do their job and interpret what the great 14th Amendment means.”
Raskin, who served as the head impeachment manager for the Democrats' second attempt to remove President Trump from office over the January 6 riots, previously attempted to challenge the count during Donald Trump’s Electoral College vote certification in 2017.
The Democratic Party Representative used his intervention in February to predict the Supreme Court would block efforts to exclude the 45th President from state ballots.
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was introduced post-Civil War to block former Confederates from holding federal office, including ex-Dixie President Jefferson Davis.
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Pro-Trump protesters had stormed the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021GettyHowever, Raskin’s prediction was not completely fair, given nine justices unanimously rejected the attempt to remove Trump from state ballots.
The Supreme Court noted: “The Constitution makes Congress, rather than the states, responsible for enforcing Section 3 against federal officeholders and candidates.”
Colorado and Maine were among the states determined to prevent Trump from getting onto the ballot.
Congress already failed to block Trump from running for the White House after the failed impeachment proceedings following the January 6 riots.
The Senate failed to reach a two-thirds majority required to convict the 45th President, ending hope of a simple-majority vote to bar him from serving in the Oval Office again.
Donald Trump ReutersHowever, as the clip resurfaced yesterday, senior Trump aide Stephen Miller joined a growing list of Raskin critics after the clip resurfaced yesterday.
He said: “I believe this is called a criminal conspiracy to commit election interference.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk added: “That's a crazy thing for him to say.”
Donald Trump Jr also wrote: “This is what an actual threat to democracy looks like.”
The former President’s son was seemingly making reference to attacks on his father.
Kamala Harris has announced Tim Walz as her running mateReutersConcern about the rhetoric in the 2024 US Presidential Election peaked after a lone shooter opened fire at Trump in Pennsylvania, killing an audience member and injuring two others.
Biden subsequently conceded it was a mistake to say it was “time to put Trump in a bullseye”.
The clip circulated on social media hours before Kamala Harris unveiled Tim Walz as her running-mate.
Harris, who will likely secure the Democratic Party nomination after Joe Biden stood down, witnessed a boost in the polls with momentum flowing behind the Vice President.
Redfield & Wilton Strategies latest opinion poll put Trump ahead in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
However, the pair were level in Nevada and Wisconsin, with Harris edging ahead in Arizona, Minnesota and New Mexico.
