As many as a dozen Democrats in the House of Representatives supported a bill to block Trump from running for office again.
On Thursday, Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) introduced legislation that would use Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to charge former President Trump with inciting a rebellion following the riot in the Capitol on January 6, 2021, which temporarily halted the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
In an insurrection on January 6, 2021, to overturn the lawful and constitutional results of the 2020 election, Donald Trump undoubtedly took part. According to a statement released by Cicilline, the legislation is replete with evidence and facts to construct the case against the 45th president, who “does not deserve to govern a country he attempted to destroy.”
Fifty Democrats have signed on as co-sponsors so far. Not shortly after Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, the measure was introduced, potentially setting up a rematch between Trump and Biden, who has already announced his desire to run again.
David Cicilline, a former impeachment manager and current member of the House Judiciary Committee, points to the disqualification language of Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the Unit.
It is unknown if such a bill would be submitted for a vote. Because a Republican majority will take control of the House of Representatives in January 2022, the likelihood of this happening in the coming year is low.
In January 2021, the House of Representatives, then controlled by Democrats, impeached former President Trump for instigating an insurrection. However, the Senate, then owned by Republicans, acquitted him. Cicilline highlighted Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Kentucky) condemnation of Trump following his acquittal as part of his case for imposing a sentence. McConnell voted against the conviction.
In the words of Mitch McConnell on the Senate floor, “there is no question, none” that ” former President Trump is practically and ethically culpable for inciting the events of the day.” According to the 14th Amendment’s Section 5, Congress can make legislation barring those with Trump’s history of behavior from ever again holding public office.
On Monday, the House January 6 Committee will convene for the last time before voting on whether to ask the Department of Justice to bring criminal charges against Trump in connection with the Capitol riot and attempts to affect the outcome of the 2020 election. A special counsel is already investigating Trump on behalf of the Justice Department about the 2020 election and Trump’s handling of documents after he leaves office, so that these inquiries will continue regardless of the outcome of the vote. In general, Trump has accused the innocent of being in the government.