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Former President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit in Michigan to protect his candidacy on the ballot.
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Trump’s legal team argues that removing him from the ballot would go against the will of the people.
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In addition, his attorneys claim that he did not actively participate in the insurrection, making him still eligible to run for office.
In an effort to ensure his name is included on the ballot, Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, has initiated a lawsuit against the Michigan Secretary of State. Trump’s impressive polling numbers serve as one of the justifications for this legal action.
Trump is facing similar challenges in other states like Colorado and Minnesota, where lawsuits argue that his involvement in the January 6th insurrection violates the 14th Amendment.
A progressive organization has also filed a suit in Michigan, seeking Trump’s disqualification from the ballot.
Responding to these challenges, Trump’s attorneys argue that the popularity he enjoys makes it unjustifiable to exclude him from the ballot, asserting that such an action goes against public will.
“Our suit alleges that despite President Trump’s tremendous popularity, there are individuals seeking to deny the voters in Michigan the chance to support him,” reads the lawsuit. “They intend for the Secretary of State to exceed her authority, violating her responsibilities, and use this Court as a means to achieve their objective.”
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment specifically addresses the disqualification of individuals who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion or have provided support to those involved in an insurrection. Therefore, opponents argue that Trump is ineligible for office based on this Constitutional provision.
Trump’s legal team has put forth several arguments, asserting both his exemption from Section 3 and the Michigan Secretary of State’s lack of authority to enforce the amendment or make decisions based on it. Furthermore, they claim that Trump did not actively participate in the insurrection, as “engaging” requires some level of active involvement, which they insist he did not exhibit.
The representatives for Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, while Trump’s representatives did not respond immediately to Insider’s request for a comment.
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