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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, filed a Supreme Court amicus brief on Thursday in support of President Trump’s appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to disqualify him from appearing on the 2024 primary ballot.
Scalise and Cruz, who both enthusiastically endorsed Trump earlier this month, announced the news in a press release where they urge the U.S. Supreme Court to “reverse the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision.”
Scalise wrote on X that the amicus brief was joined by more than 175 House and Senate Republicans, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., who has been vocal about his opposition to Colorado’s decision.
In December, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that the 45th president would be barred from appearing on the primary ballot because he “engaged in insurrection” on Jan. 6, 2021 and thus violated the 14th Amendment.
The Trump campaign appealed the decision, and the Supreme Court announced in the first week of January that it would hear oral arguments on the appeal starting on Feb. 8, 2024. According to a previous report from RSBN, the nation’s highest court also issued a stay, requiring the Colorado Secretary of State to keep President Trump’s name on the 2024 ballot until they have ruled on the case.
Colorado’s 2024 presidential primary election will take place on March 5, 2024.
In a show of support and loyalty to President Trump, Cruz and Scalise wrote in their press release that they and their colleagues are arguing that “the Colorado Supreme Court’s opinion tramples the prerogatives of members of Congress.” They added, the court “raced past numerous textual and structural limitations … which are primarily designed to ensure that Congress controls the enforcement and removal” of a president from office.
They also contended that the court “adopted a malleable and expansive view of ‘engage in insurrection,’ which will easily lead to widespread abuse” against individuals who politically oppose those in power in the U.S.
The lawmakers concluded, “The legislators urge the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision.”