John,

Gino DiGiovanni Jr. beat Mayor Richard Dziekan in Derby, Connecticut’s Republican primary by just 10 votes — 202 to 192. That means DiGiovanni Jr. is the Republican nominee for mayor in Derby.

DiGiovanni was elected alderman in the town in 2021, and now he’s a candidate for a higher office. But he is also facing charges for participating in the insurrection on January 6th.

DiGiovanni was charged with two counts of entering a restricted building, one count of disorderly conduct inside a Capitol building, and one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing inside a Capitol building.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, also known as the Disqualification Clause, bars anyone who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution and who then engages in insurrection from holding state or federal office. That clause was passed after the Civil War to ensure that those who try to overthrow the government are not later put in charge of it.

Whether or not DiGiovanni is convicted of his charges, and whether or not he is formally disqualified under the 14th Amendment, his candidacy is part of a worrying trend.

We can’t downplay the violence at the Capitol on January 6th and the threat the Big Lie still poses to our democracy.

CREW has used the 14th Amendment to remove New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin from office for participating in the insurrection, and recently sued to enforce Donald Trump’s disqualification from office under the same provision.

Make a donation to CREW today to help us continue our work holding insurrectionists accountable and raising the alarm about threats to our democracy →

Thanks,

CREW