Representative David Cicilline is seeking to invoke an obscure section of the 14th Amendment to bar Donald Trump from ever holding office again.
Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat, is specifically citing the former President’s alleged involvement in “inciting an insurrection.”
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He sent a letter to colleagues outlining a bill and requesting co-sponsors for the measure that “would prevent Donald Trump from holding public office again under the Fourteenth Amendment.”
Cicilline circulated his letter on the same night Trump announced his campaign for the presidency.
Rep. David Cicilline (a former Trump impeachment manager) is circulating a letter to Dems rounding up support for legislation to bar Trump from office under the 14th Amendment, per copy I obtained: pic.twitter.com/BsDNbhjPUg
— Nicholas Wu (@nicholaswu12) November 16, 2022
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RELATED: Democrats Attempting To Use 14th Amendment To Bar Trump From Office
Using the 14th Amendment to Bar Trump
Is there an Amendment the Democrats haven’t used in trying to keep Donald Trump out of the White House? If it’s not the 25th Amendment, let’s try the 14th.
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment is a rarely cited Civil War-era provision that bars individuals from holding office if they “have engaged in insurrection or rebellion” or “given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”
Cicilline believes the January 6 Committee has provided proof of said rebellion on the part of the former President.
He says his bill “details testimony and evidence demonstrating how Donald Trump engaged in insurrection against the United States,” and references evidence provided by the select committee hearings.
As Trump announces bid, Dem Rep. David Cicilline is circulating legislation to bar Donald Trump from holding office, citing the 14th Amendment that bans individuals from holding office who have engaged in an insurrection. Letter sent to colleagues: pic.twitter.com/vQDiE0enUB
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 16, 2022
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RELATED: Democrats Have A Back-Up Plan That Might Still Bar Trump From Running Again If Impeachment Fails
Flawed Logic
David Cicilline’s bid to bar Trump from office using the 14th Amendment has a couple of fatal flaws.
One, just because the media refers to a rally that got out of control as ‘insurrection’ does not make it so, especially when referencing a Civil War-era clause that was clearly referencing those who took up arms to try and fracture the United States.
Two, while Trump was impeached in January 2021 on the charge of “incitement of insurrection,” he was ultimately acquitted by the Senate.
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Acquitted. End of discussion.
Here’s my write-up from earlier at @townhallcom highlighting as much. “14th Amendment” has been trending over Twitter today actually. https://t.co/EoMCGTfuSv
— Rebecca Downs (@RebeccaRoseGold) November 16, 2022
It’s such a sad attempt at keeping Trump out of office that one almost feels pity for Cicilline.
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It’s not a unique stance, however.
The Political Insider reported back in February of 2021 that Congressional Democrats were considering utilizing the 14th Amendment to stop their primary political opponent.
The measure at the time had no support on either side of the political aisle, with Democrats preferring “to see the former president convicted in the impeachment trial.”
He wasn’t convicted, making use of the Amendment even more ludicrous.
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Legal scholar Jonathan Turley has argued that invoking the measure against Trump is a “dangerous” tactic for the nation.
Barring the former President from running again in the future based on a rarely cited provision of the 14th Amendment, after having been acquitted and without a supermajority vote, could open up the floodgates for parties in power to keep their political opponents out of office.
The trial arguments have not even begun but Democrats are already talking about the options following acquittal. Unfortunately, they are pushing the 14th amendment option. https://t.co/dotXyNKLpr That could give Trump the ultimate vindication in court. https://t.co/qckRlUGgCY
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) February 9, 2021
- 15 Democrats objected to counting Florida’s electoral votes in 2000.
- 31 Democrats voted in favor of rejecting electoral votes from Ohio in 2004.
- 7 different Democrats objected 11 times to certifying the results of the 2016 presidential election.
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All of those Democrat lawmakers tried to overturn a legal presidential election. In 2016, it led to violent riots in the streets of Washington, D.C. meant to intimidate officials. In other words, an ‘insurrection’ by the media’s phony standards.
Should those individuals also be barred from ever running for office again under the 14th Amendment?
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Democrats have held a grudge about the Civil Rights Amendments, 13, 14, 15 since they were ratified, and they tried to prevent that too.
There was no insurrection on Jan 6. The FBI has already made a report to that in August of last year. This just continues to prove the corruption of the dems and left.
Well here we are again, if the real R’s in the house and Senate want to prove their worth, this is the time…..There was no insurrection and the following D panic mode that stooped to taxpayer monies for fraud and illegal hearings that was nothing more than malicious gossip and whining by the left for being outed by the Trump admin as swamp rats owing their souls to special interest….The real R’s can now officially demand the evidence from the trial in which the DIMs refused to turn over to the Defendant they still are trying to persecute with a 4th amend stretch…..Real R’s would seek reparations for the taxpayers and prosecution for fraudulent acts for political intolerance…..
There will be a big problem with that in that Trump has registered to run as President of the Republic of America (check out the filing) “the United States” which is a federation of states, NOT as CEO of the Bankrupt Corrupt Corporation THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. There is a difference
Take a real good look at the O’Biden history of political service and tell me this fraud should be a POTUS…….
Nobody is charged for “insurrction”, so that is out. Investigate, and you will find that Trump was a mile away, giving a speech when it happpened. Check the members in the jail. No Trump people. Jerk.
The only thing that has been proven is the Feds/Pelosi were the driving force of the Jan 6 demonstration.
Idiots like this are the benchmark of the Democratic party and put their intelligence level on full display for all to see. For over 6 years the Democratic party has doe everything possible to throw President Trump out of the political arena and failed miserably. This is because President Trump is a true American patriot and can’t be bought! It is really unfortunate that the Democrats haven’t put all this misguided energy and money 8nto the betterment of the country instead of focusing on dark and dismal fairy-tales that focus on benefits for themselves instead of the country they were elected to serve.
What are the Democrats so afraid of? I think they’re scared spitless that everyone will find out that they don’t NEED Democrat help to get ahead.
You know, if this wasn’t such a pathetic and political attempt to, once again, somehow smear Trump, it would be laughable. I wish the Democrats would spend as much time doing something GOOD for the country, instead of always doing something TO the country.
Cicilline—–Surely you cannot have a valid drivers license since you would have to drive with your head firmly up your a–.
The driving force here is HATE the emotion that takes away the ability to logic or reason. There are much more important items that need the immediate attention of the government then trying to stop one person from running for office. Truly demented idiots at play!!!!!
They have been trying to destroy President Trump for years now so why not try and bar him from running and they have just enough RINO’s to do it.