A case attempting to block former President Donald Trump’s name from appearing on the presidential ballot in Arizona has been rejected.
The effort to use the 14th Amendment to bar the former president from the 2024 primary officially ended on Tuesday.
Obama judge dismisses Arizona case trying to remove Trump from 2024 ballothttps://t.co/fZG25Q4pEC pic.twitter.com/MTJvQ5slSX
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 6, 2023
The ruling
“Judge Douglas Leroy Rayes, an Obama appointee, dismissed a case launched by John Castro, a long shot GOP presidential candidate, arguing Mr. Trump can’t run for office due to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which forbids anyone who engaged in a rebellion from serving in public office,” the Washington Times reported.
“It was at least the seventh state that has seen court rulings against the former president’s critics trying to keep him off the 2024 presidential ballot based on the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots, and the Trump campaign quickly took a victory lap,” it noted.
Team Trump declares victory as Arizona court dismisses 14th Amendment ballot case | Just The News https://t.co/7BcsqE9zWi
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) December 6, 2023
The response
“Today, federal court in Arizona dismissed another bad faith, 14th Amendment challenge to President Trump’s ballot status. President Trump remains undefeated in beating back these scurrilous lawsuits brought forth by a thirsty, Biden-allied troll in a desperate publicity campaign,” said campaign spokesman Steven Cheung.
“Each and every one of these ‘Castro Cases’ are not only a feeble attempt to interfere with the 2024 presidential election, but they are a huge waste of time for our nation’s judiciary,” he continued. “We urge the swift disposal of all remaining 14th Amendment cases putting this matter to rest faster than the recently deceased term ‘Bidenomics,'” he added.
One More Case to Keep Trump Off the Ballot Dismissed in Arizona https://t.co/mewTYJ1AIF
— Mellie (@Melanie01919624) December 6, 2023
The victory
“The Trump campaign was quick to claim victory, claiming such cases are part of a publicity stunt and hit campaign against the GOP frontrunner,” the Epoch Times reported.
“Mr. Castro is not the only one to have brought a 14th Amendment challenge claiming President Trump is ineligible to run for office, but he has filed the most lawsuits in this vein. All such challenges have so far failed, though many are still pending in the courts,” it continued.
Similar cases have been brought against Trump in other states, including Michigan and Rhode Island. So far, all cases have been dismissed.
One case in Colorado that was turned down remains on track for an upcoming hearing in the state’s Supreme Court.
The unsuccessful attempts mean the former president will be on the ballots for the primary and the general election if he wins the GOP battles. The current path is likely to place Trump in a rematch with President Joe Biden, allowing voters to decide who will lead the nation over the next four years.
