Colorado's secretary of state said in an interview late Wednesday that former President Trump has a “get out of jail free card,” after the former president appealed a decision earlier in the day to exclude him from voting in the state. He said no.
Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswold (Democratic) said on MSNBC's “Last Words with Lawrence O'Donnell,” “While Colorado courts have determined at this point that Donald Trump incited insurrection.'' is trying to claim that it did not incite rebellion.”
“And Trump continues to claim that the Constitution doesn't apply to him, even though he incited the insurrection. I don't think that's right,” Griswold added. “I don't believe there is a 'get out of jail free' presidential card that would allow Donald Trump to evade the scrutiny of national law and the Constitution.”
President Trump took an oath to “support” the U.S. Constitution, but the Colorado Supreme Court ruled last month to exclude the former president from voting under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits “persons engaged in insurrection.” asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn it. He opposed holding federal office.
Trump's lawyers are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case and immediately reverse the Colorado ruling on summary judgment without oral or extensive arguments.
“The Colorado Supreme Court does not have the authority to deny President Trump access to his ballot,” Trump's lawyers wrote in the petition. “In doing so, the Colorado Supreme Court usurped Congress's authority and misinterpreted and misapplied the provisions of Article III.”
Griswold said on MSNBC that it is “very important” that the Supreme Court considers the case.
“This is a big deal, it's novel, it's unprecedented, because normally you don't have a president trying to steal the presidency,” she said. “Normally you don't run someone who started an insurrection for president.”
Griswold also said he hopes the Supreme Court will rule quickly on the Colorado decision, noting that he filed a brief Tuesday asking the court to act quickly.
“So that's a schedule that's rapidly approaching,” Griswold said. “I hope the Supreme Court will act quickly. Lawrence, the American people have a right to know whether a president is fit to commit an insurrection and then serve again in office.”
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