A Missouri Republican official is taking drastic measures to retaliate against the determination made in two other states that Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the ballot due to his involvement in the insurrection. This official is threatening to remove President Joe Biden from the ballot as well.
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft expressed his disapproval of the recent developments in Colorado and Maine, describing them as disgraceful and harmful to the integrity of our republic. In a post on the social media platform X, he stated, “What has happened in Colorado & Maine is disgraceful & undermines our republic. While I expect the Supreme Court to overturn this, if not, Secretaries of State will step in & ensure the new legal standard for @realDonaldTrump applies equally to @JoeBiden!” Ashcroft firmly believes that the Supreme Court will rectify the situation, but if necessary, Secretaries of State will take action to ensure that the new legal standard, which applies to President Trump, is also applied to President-elect Biden.
Shortly after the Supreme Court agreed to review a decision by Colorado’s high court, Ashcroft made a post. The decision found that Trump could potentially be barred from the state’s primary ballot due to his actions leading up to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The Colorado Supreme Court has made its ruling based on the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. According to this amendment, individuals who have participated in insurrection are prohibited from running for certain federal offices.
In an interview, Ashcroft mentioned that he tweeted his warning with the intention of reminding people of the severity of the situation.
In an interview with NBC News, he expressed his strong belief that the Supreme Court will put a halt to it. However, he also acknowledged the potential for chaos if the Court does not intervene.
Former Attorney General Ashcroft announced his intention to file an amicus brief with the Supreme Court. In this brief, he aims to provide a warning about the potential consequences if Colorado’s disqualification is upheld. Ashcroft emphasized that his support is not tied to any particular party involved in the case.
Ashcroft expressed concern about the potential consequences if Democrat states continue to prevent Republicans from running for office. He noted that if this trend continues, Republican states may also adopt similar measures, creating a divisive and unproductive political environment. To illustrate his point, Ashcroft used a basketball analogy, comparing the situation to a game where one team is not required to dribble the ball. In such a scenario, the opposing team would naturally question the need to adhere to the rules of the game.
According to Ashcroft, disqualifying Biden from the ballot for insurrection would involve highlighting his alleged failure to prevent a border invasion. Ashcroft claims that Vice President Kamala Harris supported individuals who rebelled against the U.S. government during the 2020 riots, which were sparked by the murder of George Floyd and centered around racial justice protests.
“He said that if this is the standard, it doesn’t automatically mean that she is not allowed to run. None of us can determine that since there is no established standard,” he said.
The Biden campaign did not respond to a comment request immediately.
According to an email statement from Michon Lindstrom, a spokesperson for Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, the office is pleased with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to review Donald Trump’s appeal from the Colorado Supreme Court. Lindstrom stated that this move will help bring clarity and consistency for all Secretaries of State regarding this matter.
Texas’ Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick hinted at the possibility of removing Biden from office, citing the influx of 8 million people crossing the border during his presidency. According to Patrick, this has resulted in significant disruptions to their state, surpassing any other actions taken in recent history.
While the cases go through the legal system, Trump is still on the ballot in Colorado and Maine, both of which have their primaries on Super Tuesday (March 5).
The situation in Maine differs slightly from that in Colorado. In this case, the Democratic secretary of state concluded that Trump did not meet the requirements to be included on the ballot.
According to Ashcroft, he holds the belief that secretaries should not play a significant role in determining the individuals who are eligible to be on the ballot.
“I’m scared for what it means for our election,” he said, expressing his reluctance to go there.
Jane C. Timm, a senior reporter at NBC News, brings her expertise and experience to the table.
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