Vivek Ramaswamy pledges to withdraw Colorado ballot following Trumps removal

Colorado, December 20: Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy vows to withdraw from Colorado's GOP primary ballot following the state Supreme Court's ruling ousting former President Donald Trump over the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

The Colorado Supreme Court, in a tight 4-3 verdict, utilized the 14th Amendment's 'insurrection clause' to disqualify Trump from the ballot. This decision stems from Trump's alleged role in inciting the Capitol riot by disseminating false election fraud claims and directing supporters to the Capitol.

This ruling marks Colorado as the first state to prevent Trump from seeking the presidency based on his involvement in the insurrection. The court's interpretation of the insurrection clause states that anyone engaged in insurrection after swearing allegiance to the Constitution cannot hold federal office.

Vivek Ramaswamy, reacting strongly, declared his intent to exit the Colorado GOP primary unless Trump is reinstated on the ballot. He called upon fellow Republican candidates like Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, and Nikki Haley to follow suit, condemning the court's action as an affront to democracy. Ramaswamy's social media post denounced the court's decision as an unprecedented attack on democracy, accusing a bipartisan establishment of employing tactics to prevent Trump from future office-holding through the 14th Amendment.

Chris Christie, another prominent GOP candidate, argued that the decision should rest with voters, not the courts, regarding whether Trump should be barred from the presidency again. This move in Colorado sets a contentious precedent in the ongoing landscape of the Republican presidential primary race. In a staunch statement, Chris Christie emphasized his belief that Donald Trump's eligibility for the presidency should be decided by voters, not the courts. Christie voiced concern over any attempt to bar Trump from the presidency through legal measures, stressing that it's ultimately detrimental to the nation.

Expressing his viewpoint, Christie conveyed, "What I will say is I do not believe Donald Trump should be prevented from being President of the United States, by any court." He reiterated his stance, highlighting that such a decision should be within the purview of the electorate, not the judicial system.

The former New Jersey governor articulated his concerns in a Tuesday statement, underscoring his belief that a court's intervention to keep Trump off the ballot wouldn't serve the country's best interests. Christie emphasised the absence of a trial regarding Trump's alleged involvement in inciting insurrection, making it premature to exclude him from the presidential race, as reported by The Hill.

CNN reported the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling, which nullified former President Donald Trump's eligibility for the state's 2024 ballot. The court's decision cited the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban" as grounds for disqualifying Trump from the presidential candidacy. The ruling's enforcement is delayed until January 4, pending Trump's appeal to the US Supreme Court, potentially shaping the national landscape on this matter.

While the ruling impacts Colorado exclusively, its historic significance reverberates throughout the upcoming 2024 presidential campaign. The deadline to finalize the list of candidates for the GOP primary in Colorado, scheduled for March 5, is January 5, posing a critical timeline.

In its verdict, the majority opinion by the Colorado Supreme Court asserted Trump's direct involvement in inciting insurrection. The court underscored Trump's persistent efforts, even during the Capitol siege, urging Vice President Pence to disregard his constitutional obligations and persuading Senators to halt the electoral vote count.

The court's decision dismissed Trump's claims of free speech protection, asserting that his speech on January 6 didn't fall under First Amendment safeguards. Notably, all seven justices on the Colorado Supreme Court were appointed by Democratic governors, and six of them won statewide retention elections. The seventh justice, appointed in 2021, has not yet faced voters, as per CNN's report.