Some House Democrats are pushing measures to bar President Donald Trump from entering the United States Capitol and holding federal office under the 14th Amendment, claiming he engaged in an “insurrection” as defined by the 14th Amendment on January 6, 2021.
Reps. Nikema Williams (D-GA) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) support a concurrent resolution to bar Trump, Steve Bannon, Mark Meadows, Dan Scavino, Peter Navarro, Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, Kenneth Cheseboro, and Rudy Giuliani from entering the U.S. Capitol.
In addition, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) is leading a group of 40 House Democrats to introduce legislation under the 14th Amendment to disqualify Trump from ever holding federal office again.
The concurrent resolution states that the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and the United States Capitol Police shall take necessary actions to prohibit the listed individuals from entering the Capitol. Williams had previously introduced a similar resolution to bar Trump from entering the Capitol after his term ended.
Trump, currently traveling to East Palestine, calls Rep. Eric Swalwell an "idiot" in a lengthy statement pic.twitter.com/TXiHSSgYho
— Christian Datoc (@TocRadio) February 22, 2023
In response, President Trump called Swalwell an idiot who is “not respected by anybody” and used for entertainment reasons by the fake news media to continue their assault on him and America.
President Trump was the first Republican to announce a 2024 campaign for the White House. The field of GOP candidates is expected to become crowded as the year progresses.
Cicilline’s bill purports to claim President Trump encouraged violence during the protests on January 6 and “refused to denounce” the group of people who entered the Capitol building that day. The bill cites Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which disqualifies anyone who engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” from holding any civil or military office under the United States.
The 14th Amendment was ratified after the Civil War, when ex-Confederates and seceded states rejoined the Union. The insurrection the amendment defines is a direct reference to the Civil War.
Cicilline served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s first impeachment. He now claims that President Trump “very clearly” engaged in an “insurrection” as defined by the amendment.
Democrats are expressing concern over President Trump’s prospect of defeating Joe Biden next year for another term in the White House through legalistic maneuvers designed to silence his First Amendment rights to free speech and political activity.
However, attempts to misuse the 14th Amendment to ban him from the Capitol or holding future federal office is an overreach of power and sets a dangerous precedent.
