Toba Owojaiye reportingÂ
Abuja , NigeriaÂ
Former President Donald Trump achieved a significant victory on Wednesday as Michigan’s Supreme Court dismissed a case aiming to disqualify him from the state’s presidential primary ballot on Feb. 27. The court refused to hear an appeal from four voters who sought to bar Trump based on his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The voters contended that Trump, the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination, should be disqualified under a constitutional provision preventing individuals from holding office if involved in “insurrection or rebellion” after swearing allegiance to the United States. In a brief order, the justices stated, “We are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court.”
Responding to the court’s decision, Trump posted on his Truth Social site, asserting that the court “strongly and rightfully denied” what he deemed a “desperate Democrat attempt” to remove him from the Michigan ballot. This stands in contrast to Colorado’s recent decision to disqualify Trump under the same constitutional provision, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, a decision he plans to challenge at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Truth Live News gathered that despite facing federal charges and charges in Georgia related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Trump has not been charged with insurrection linked to the Capitol attack. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling could potentially determine Trump’s eligibility to run in the 2024 presidential race nationwide.
While the Michigan ruling was seen as procedural, allowing the voters to revive their case for the November 2024 general election, Mark Brewer, the attorney representing them, expressed disappointment. He emphasized the commitment to upholding the constitutional provision and safeguarding the republic, signaling a continued legal battle.
Unlike the Colorado case, the Michigan Supreme Court did not delve into the merits of whether Trump engaged in insurrection. Instead, it upheld lower court decisions that deemed such matters inappropriate for determination during the primary election. Notably, Michigan is considered a pivotal swing state that could play a crucial role in deciding the general election’s outcome.
This development sets the stage for potential legal clashes in the run-up to the 2024 election, with the possibility of U.S. Supreme Court intervention looming large. Reporting by Andrew Goudsward, Jasper Ward, and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Richard Cowan, Paul Grant, Chizu Nomiyama, and Mark Porter.