Groups to rally against Trump’s eligibility to run for office

WASHINGTON – Two advocacy groups are launching a campaign to disqualify former President Donald Trump from running for another term.

Free Speech for People and Mi Familia Vota are planning rallies and dropping banners to advocate for Trump’s legal disqualification.

They are invoking Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits running anyone out of office for inciting a riot or rebellion after being sworn in.

The groups say Trump’s incitement to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, meets the definition of an insurrection.

The rallies will be held outside the offices of secretaries of state in California, Colorado, Georgia and Oregon.

The groups have also sent a letter to Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar asking him to bar Trump from the ballot.

The events coincide with the 155th anniversary of the ratification of the 14th Amendment.

Alexandra Flores-Quilty, campaign director for Free Speech for People, said allowing Trump to run for the ballot will set a dangerous precedent of permitting violent attacks on democracy.

“Failing to hold him responsible not only violates the Constitution, but it also sets a dangerous precedent for permitting violent attacks on our democracy. That’s not a risk we can afford to take,” he said. 

He said there was a need to hold Trump accountable and prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.

 Trump has not yet been criminally charged with the attack on the Capitol, but he is under investigation by Special Prosecutor Jack Smith.

Smith is also leading an investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing.