Former U.S. President Donald Trump made his way to Manhattan Criminal Court on April 4, 2023, for an arraignment. This comes as a result of four charges that he is facing, which are directly linked to his involvement in the insurrection that took place on January 6, 2021. The seriousness of the situation is evident as Trump prepares to address the legal consequences of his actions.
Next week, Frankey Ithaka will be heading to the courtroom to fight against the inclusion of Donald Trump on the presidential primary and general election ballots in Washington.
In a legal filing, eight Kitsap County voters have argued that former President Trump should be disqualified due to his actions on January 6, 2021. They claim that he “engaged in an insurrection” and “attempted to overthrow the election of Joe Biden through violence.”
Ithaka was surprised that no one else in Washington was taking action like this. She credits Secretary of State Steve Hobbs for helping her reach this point.
The middle school teacher from Port Orchard listened to Hobbs explain in a radio interview earlier this month about the limitations of Washington laws when it comes to voter challenges. According to Hobbs, challenges can only be made after the January 9 deadline for the state’s Democratic and Republican parties to submit names for the ballots. He then went on to outline the process that follows.
She expressed her gratitude, saying, “That interview was a lifesaver. Without it, I would have been completely lost.”
Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Forbes has a scheduled hearing at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday to consider the voters’ request.
Forbes is extending an invitation to Hobbs and Kitsap County Auditor Paul Andrews, urging them to attend and provide a response. Additionally, the leaders of the state Republican and Democratic parties have also been invited to participate in the event.
The Attorney General’s Office is expected to represent Hobbs at the proceeding. According to an email from Jim Walsh, the chair of the Washington State Republican Party, the party may or may not send someone to observe what he described as a “pathetic show.”
In a scathing critique, the author expressed their disdain for what they deemed as a nonsensical display of political theater. They firmly asserted that this was yet another example of how Donald Trump continues to remain a significant figure in the minds of uninformed individuals on the left side of the political spectrum.
The author dismissed the eccentric interpretations of the 14th Amendment by angry individuals, emphasizing that such discussions have no relevance to the upcoming presidential election.
Shasti Conrad, the chair of the state Democratic Party, also expressed her absence from the event.
“We have a neutral stance on these endeavors. It is not our duty to rectify the state of the Republican Party,” she stated in an email.
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The final list of candidates for Washington’s March 12 presidential primary ballot was announced on Tuesday.
President Joe Biden, Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips, and self-help author Marianne Williamson are all vying for the Democratic nomination.
The Republican field consists of five contenders: Donald Trump, the incumbent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Christie’s name is on the list due to his failure to suspend his campaign before the Tuesday deadline.
Ithaka discovered from Hobbs’ radio interview that she had a limited window of 48 hours to submit an affidavit in court in order to prevent Trump from appearing on the ballot.
In the case, she referred to a state law which states that if a candidate commits a “wrongful act,” they can be deemed ineligible.
“Ithaka stated that insurrection can be classified as wrongdoing.”
Robert Brem, along with his partner from Port Orchard, collaborated to draft the affidavit, which consisted of a concise paragraph.
Several states are currently undertaking similar efforts, following the example set by other states. This initiative is based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which specifically disqualifies government officials who have been involved in acts of insurrection or rebellion from holding office.
The Colorado Supreme Court has determined that the provision is applicable to Trump, resulting in the removal of his name from the state’s primary ballot. In February, the U.S. Supreme Court will review an appeal regarding this matter.
The Oregon Supreme Court announced on Friday that it would defer to the decision of the nation’s high court and would not proceed with a case challenging the former president’s eligibility to be listed on Oregon ballots.
When Ithaka shared her plans with her friends, they were eager to show their support. On Tuesday, they all gathered to sign the affidavit and have it notarized.
They are motivated by their own drive and passion, rather than being part of a national political organization like in other states. They emphasize that they are not affiliated with any political party or partisan group. While they do not currently have legal representation, they would be grateful for a pro bono lawyer to offer their assistance.
“We are political scientists and political theorists,” she explained.
In his virtual political science courses at California State University East Bay, Brem emphasizes the significance of an active and involved citizenry.
He emphasized the importance of leading by example, stating, “I can’t teach that if I’m not going to live it.” Their main concern was the question, “If not us, who?”
