MUltiple dozens of Democrats in the House have chosen to stand behind a recently introduced piece of legislation that would seek to ban former President Donald Trump from holding any public office ever again.
The bill in question, which was brought to the forefront by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), seeks to make use of Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment as a means to accomplish his goal, accusing Trump of planning and carrying out an attempted insurrection with the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, which very shortly disrupted the official certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
“Donald Trump very clearly engaged in an insurrection on January 6, 2021, with the intention of overturning the lawful and fair results of the 2020 election. You don’t get to lead a government you tried to destroy,” Cicilline stated in a release bragging about how this legislation is rife with evidence and testimony to make a strong case against the 45th president.
A group of almost forty Democrats has stepped up as co-sponsors. This piece of legislation was brought forth just a few weeks in the wake of Trump openly announcing his campaign for a 2024 presidential election, creating what could possibly be yet another battle against Biden, who has claimed that he intends to try and push for reelection.
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee and a former impeachment manager, Cicilline has cited language from Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which puts emphasis on disqualification from holding public office: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”
It is still quite the toss-up whether or not such a bill will secure the votes needed. This coming January will most likely see its chances drop drastically as numerous Republicans take over the lower chamber in the wake of securing a majority of seats during the recent 2022 midterm elections.
The impeachment of Trump was carried out by a Democrat-led House in January 2021 by slamming him with a charge of inciting an insurrection, but he was eventually acquitted by the then-GOP-controlled Senate. However, Cicilline put forth his case via a press release, highlighting a statement from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who originally voted against any sort of conviction but openly criticized Trump in the wake of the acquittal.
“Even Mitch McConnell admits that Trump bears responsibility, saying on the Senate floor that ‘[t]here’s no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day.’ The 14th Amendment makes clear that based on his past behavior, Donald Trump is disqualified from ever holding federal office again and, under Section 5, Congress has the power to pass legislation to implement this prohibition.”
Monday will see the final meeting of the House January 6 Committee at which members are expected to issue their vote concerning pushing the Justice Department to go after Criminal Charges against Trump due to the Capitol riot and his alleged efforts to reverse the 2020 election.