Firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz and at least 65 House Republicans introduced a resolution Tuesday saying former President Donald Trump “has not engaged in any insurrection or insurrection against the United States.”
of 1 page resolution It seeks to undermine the legitimacy of removing Trump from state ballots across the country. This comes as the Supreme Court prepares to hold oral arguments on the Colorado issue on Thursday.
“We are here today to authoritatively state that President Trump did not commit an insurrection, and we believe Congress has a unique role to play in making that declaration.” Gaetz (R-Florida) explained at a press conference.
“It’s time for members of the House and Senate to state their positions on this issue.”
Gaetz, 41, was flanked by a number of House Republicans, including the bill’s original co-sponsor, Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.).
Concurrent with the House resolution, Sen. J.D. Vance (D-Ohio) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
“From the president on down, the Democratic Party is abusing the judicial system to disenfranchise millions of Americans and vote Donald Trump out,” Vance said in a statement.
“This is an incredibly dangerous precedent they’re setting, and it’s all based on a worthless legal theory about the application of the 14th Amendment.”
Back in December, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump would be disqualified from the state’s primary ballot after concluding that he had engaged in “voluntary and direct participation in an insurrection.”
The Centennial State High Court invoked Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, also known as the disqualification clause, to remove him from the vote.
The article states, “No person…while holding any office under the United States, whether civil or military,…shall engage in rebellion or insurrection, or give aid to the enemies of the United States.” “No one shall give them any comfort or comfort.”
Immediately after Colorado, Maine Secretary of State Shena Bellows (Democratic) moved to unilaterally disqualify him from that state’s primary ballot.
Both decisions are stalled as the Supreme Court rules against Colorado. Republican presidential elections are also scheduled for March 5 in both states.
Supporters of efforts to dissociate President Trump’s actions centered on the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol from voting booths.
President Trump also faces four indictments from the Justice Department on charges of 2020 election fraud and 13 charges from Georgia on charges of 2020 election fraud.
“The bottom line is that President Trump is not an insurrectionist and did not incite an insurrection,” Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), a co-sponsor of the resolution, said in a statement.
“This narrative is nothing more than a political distraction from the Biden administration’s failures, from a devastating economy, record inflation, and foreign policy failures to a disastrous response at the border.”
Mr. Trump has overcome challenges to his voting status in at least 35 states. According to the New York Times. So far, he has only been disqualified in two states pending appeal: Maine and Colorado.
Gates said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) has not yet confirmed plans to bring the resolution to a floor vote.
“That said, I sat next to him on the Judiciary Committee for seven years, so I know his position very well,” Gaetz explained.
