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John,
In a first of its kind landmark ruling, Denver District Judge Sarah B. Wallace found that Donald Trump “incited an insurrection”. However, the fight to disqualify Trump from running is far from over because, despite this ruling, Judge Wallace determined that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment does not disqualify Trump from the Colorado ballot -- citing a technicality over precise wording.
This interpretation contradicts the very essence of our constitutional safeguards and is not supported by Constitutional scholars across the ideological spectrum. The 14th Amendment was enacted to prevent those who rose against our democracy from holding office again. Its intentions are clear: to protect our nation from the very threat that Trump poses today.
As our ally Robert Reich perfectly notes, “Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was enacted because the nation decided it must never again trust someone with public office who once swore an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution but then violated that oath by inciting an insurrection against the United States.”
This is why our friends at CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) brought the case originally, and it’s why they’ve appealed this ruling to the Colorado Supreme Court. Oral arguments started today and CREW is standing firm in their conviction that the 14th Amendment must apply to all... not just including the President -- but especially the President!
The legal battle they are leading is costly and complex and we must stand with them in support of CREW's efforts and help fund the fight to win. Please split a donation between CREW and DFA and help us disqualify Trump now.
While CREW battles it out in court, we’re not sitting back and waiting for a decision. Working with our allies at Daily Kos and Inequality Media Civic Action, we’ve sent 200,235 direct messages calling on Secretaries of State and local election officials to disqualify Trump immediately.
As well-respected right-wing conservative former judge Michael Luttig says the 14th amendment is self-executing, just like the requirement to be older than 35 and a U.S. Citizen, so election officials don't have to wait. They can reject Trump right now.
We all saw with our own eyes that Trump organized a coordinated attempt to overturn the election with a violent insurrection. The House Select Committee revealed the illegal plot to use fake electors to overturn the election in specific states. And we all heard the phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger where Trump demanded Brad "find 11,780 votes” to overturn the election in Georgia.
Trump is disqualified. We must demand action from as many election officials in as many states and counties as possible -- before it’s too late and Trump appears on primary ballots nationwide.
But the truth is that in this unprecedented time, we know that it will take more than just public pressure to force most election officials to act. That's why these lawsuits are so critical and it’s why we must support our friends at CREW who are leading the way in the legal battles.
Please make a donation to support both CREW and DFA as we tirelessly work to safeguard our democracy. Your contribution is vital in empowering CREW to continue these crucial legal battles and for DFA to keep advocacy efforts strong in the fight to disqualify Trump now.
It's time to turn the tide and ensure that our constitutional safeguards are upheld, not just in principle but in practice.
- Amanda
Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund
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