President Joe Biden departs the White House Dec. 20, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Biden was traveling to Milwaukee to deliver remarks at the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden Wednesday said that there was “no question” former president Donald Trump was responsible for supporting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol more than two years ago.
Biden’s comments followed Tuesday’s ruling by Colorado’s Supreme Court that ordered Trump barred from appearing on the state’s 2024 presidential ballot, on the grounds of a Civil War-era insurrection clause — the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.
“It’s self-evident. You saw it all,” Biden said shortly after landing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, according to White House pool reports, when asked about the court case and at first saying he would not comment. “Now, whether the 14th Amendment applies, I’ll let the court make that decision.”
The U.S. Supreme Court would handle the appeal of the Colorado decision expected from Trump.
“But he certainly supported an insurrection,” Biden continued. “No question about it. None. Zero. And he seems to be doubling down on about everything.”
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment prohibits a person who “engaged in insurrection” after taking an oath to support the Constitution from holding office again.
Six Republican and unaffiliated Colorado voters filed a lawsuit in September, charging that the former president’s actions in relation to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol should disqualify him from public office under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.
The House impeached Trump for a second time following the attack on the Capitol, but the Senate — controlled by Republicans at the time — declined to convict Trump for his role in the insurrection, which would have barred the former president from any future runs for public office.
The ruling in Colorado includes a stay of the court’s order that will last until Jan. 4, or until the outcome of an appeal to the Supreme Court is decided.
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