The New York State Board of Elections made the decision on Tuesday to include former President Donald Trump on the state’s presidential primary ballot. This comes just two days ahead of the Supreme Court hearing a significant challenge to determine if Trump is eligible to be on the ballot as the leading candidate for the GOP.
The arguments that Trump, 77, should be disqualified over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot were rejected by the two Republican commissioners on the elections board – Anthony Casale and Peter Kosinski.
The board consists of four members, with the two Republicans holding the power to determine the eligibility of GOP candidates.
According to Casale, on Tuesday, the board received letters from voters demanding that the former commander-in-chief be disqualified. However, the board’s decision was limited by state regulations regarding a candidate’s national recognition and campaign funding.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has reportedly informed President Trump of her decision to resign following the South Carolina primary.
In response to criticisms, Casale expressed his confidence in the authority of the team, emphasizing that it extends specifically to the two mentioned criteria. He made it clear that they do not believe they have the power to surpass those limits.
“We don’t handle court proceedings at the Board of Elections. They are responsible for handling those matters.”
Democrat State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal wasted no time in filing an objection with the board of elections and vowing to challenge the decision. He cited the 14th Amendment, which prohibits officeholders who have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion,” a provision that was established after the Civil War.
“The United States Constitution can still be upheld by the Board of Elections if they choose to sustain our objection and disqualify Donald Trump from the presidential ballot,” expressed Hoylman-Sigal.
The lawmaker emphasized that the Colorado State Supreme Court has made the just decision that Donald Trump is ineligible for any elected office in the United States. This is because Trump not only participated in but also encouraged a violent insurrection, aiming to overturn the democratic choice of the American people. Tragically, this act of insurrection resulted in the loss of multiple lives.
“If the Board of Elections neglects their responsibility and refuses to declare Trump ineligible, I am prepared to take legal action against them.”
Hoylman-Sigal and others had sent a letter to the Empire State Board of Elections in December, asserting that the former president should be disqualified from the state ballot because of his involvement in the insurrection.
Hoylman-Sigal has enlisted the services of two lawyers, Roger Bernstein and Jerry Goldfeder, to advocate for him and other individuals who oppose Trump.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court will make a crucial decision regarding whether Trump can be excluded from state presidential ballots. This comes after the Colorado Supreme Court determined that he had violated the Constitution’s “Insurrection Clause.”
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