Donald Trump is ineligible to run for the US Presidency in 2024 due to the January 6 insurrection, the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled.
The former US President has been removed from the state’s presidential primary ballot, setting up a showdown in the national Supreme Court to decide whether he can remain in the race.
The court ruled 4-3 that Trump is not an eligible candidate because of section three of the 14th Amendment.
Section Three of the 14th Amendment disqualifies people who have ‘engaged in insurrection against the Constitution after having taken the oath to support it’.
The ruling, which has been put on hold pending an appeal, does not apply to other US states.
Trump is accused of inciting riots at the US Capitol Building in a bid to overturn the 2020 election result.
“We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us,” the justices wrote.
“We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.”
It reverses a decision made by a previous Colorado judge.
Steven Cheung, a spokesman Mr Trump’s campaign, said the ruling was “completely flawed”.
“Democrat Party leaders are in a state of paranoia over the growing, dominant lead President Trump has amassed in the polls,” Mr Cheung said.
“They have lost faith in the failed Biden presidency and are now doing everything they can to stop the American voters from throwing them out of office next November.”
Mr Trump’s legal team will “swiftly file an appeal” to the US Supreme Court, he added.
By Kieran Kelly@kellyjourno
