Trump’s enemies come up with new scheme to take him out | Washington Examiner

But there are some of Trump’s opponents who don’t appear to have a lot of faith in that course of action, either. So, they are now exploring the idea that Trump is already disqualified from running for office. State election boards, or secretaries of state, they say, can, and should, simply remove his name from the ballot in their states. There’s no need for a hearing, or a trial, or a legal ruling, or legislation, or any sort of adjudication process that might get messy. It’s already done. Voila! Trump is off the ballot. Let’s move on.

This magical result occurs, proponents say, by way of the 14th Amendment. Section 3 of the amendment prohibits anyone who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution and then “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against [the U.S.], or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof,” from ever holding public office. The 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868. Section 3 was intended to apply to former Confederate officials. It has “played no significant role in American governance since 1872 and was regarded by many scholars as moribund,” legal scholar and former federal Judge Michael McConnell wrote. But that was until some anti-Trumpers came up with the idea of using it against the former president.

via www.washingtonexaminer.com

Byron York.