While the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, correctly, that states could not bar former President Donald Trump from appearing on the primary ballot under the 14th Amendment, the same does not hold true for state or local officials who have been convicted of crimes stemming from the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
In a case out of New Mexico, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) refused to hear an appeal of former Otero County commissioner Couy Griffith, who was barred for life from the state ballot after his conviction. (RELATED: Report: Obama Has ‘Grave Concern' Biden Will Lose To Trump)
Griffith's lawyers argued that the same SCOTUS reasoning that applied to Trump should apply to him.
The Supremes were having none of that:
In Trump's case, the Supreme Court ruled this month that states can't bar the former president or other candidates from appearing on a ballot for federal office under the insurrection clause, concluding that while states may “disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office,” they “have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the Presidency.”
With their rejection of Griffin's appeal on Monday, the justices made clear that different rules apply to state and local candidates than to those seeking federal office.
Plus there was that lower court conviction, something Trump didn't have against him. (RELATED: Trump And Co-Defendants To Appeal Fani Willis Decision)
Mr. Griffith tweeted that he might be able to run again…as Trump's vice presidential running mate.
We shall see. However, the distinctions between the two court cases ought to be clear – as are the consequences for one's behavior. Particularly if one happens to be an elected official who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution.
And that means all the folks who declared they were committing “an act of insurrection” at a Maricopa County Board of Supervisors meeting should rethink any ambitions they have for public office.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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