Former US President Donald Trump [사진=로이터·연합뉴스]
Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s road to the presidency has turned blue. In fact, the day before ‘Super Tuesday’, which determines the presidential candidate, the burden of judicial risk was alleviated and wings were added to regain the White House.
According to the Financial Times (FT) and New York Times (NYT) on the 4th (local time), the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled to maintain former President Trump’s eligibility to run for president.
Nine justices overturned the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision ruling that former President Trump could not run for office again due to his alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The day before Super Tuesday, when primary elections are held in 16 regions, including 15 U.S. states, including Colorado, and the overseas territory of American Samoa, former President Trump has somewhat lessened his judicial risk.
The FT commented, “There is a greater possibility that this year’s presidential election will be a return match between former President Trump and President Joe Biden.”
Former President Trump welcomed the Supreme Court ruling, writing on social media, “A big victory for America!!!” “You can’t take someone out of a race,” he said in his statement. “Voters can take a person out of a race, but the courts shouldn’t do that.”
Previously, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled in December last year that former President Trump did not have the authority to register as a candidate in the state’s Republican primary for the 2024 presidential election. Based on Paragraph 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, former President Trump, who participated in the ‘attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election’, must be blocked from running for president. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits public officials who have sworn to uphold the Constitution from seeking future office if they participate in an insurrection. However, legal controversy continued to arise because the expression was ambiguous and the office of president was not specified in the public office.
Afterwards, Maine and Illinois joined Colorado’s decision, further increasing the judicial risk surrounding former President Trump.
However, the Supreme Court ruled that it was impossible for the state to exclude former President Trump from the presidential election. The Supreme Court stated that “there is nothing in the Constitution that delegates to individual states the authority to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal officers and candidates for election.” No separate judgment was made regarding the issue of connection to treason, which was the reason for disqualification from running for office.
However, although the Supreme Court justices unanimously maintained former President Trump’s eligibility to run for president, they differed on the details. In a side opinion, five conservative Supreme Court justices suggested that Congress should take additional legislation regarding specific disqualifications in relation to Article 14, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution in question.
On the other hand, progressive justices pointed out that this proposal was excessive. It is excessive to limit the disqualification requirements for running for president to only ‘statutes enacted by the Federal Assembly.’
In a separate opinion, three Supreme Court Justices, including Sonia Sotomayor, Elina Kagan, and Kirtanji Brown Jackson, said, “There was no need to rule that other potential enforcement means (for disqualifying public officials) other than congressional legislation are not permitted,” adding, “This majority opinion He said, “We are moving beyond our own judgment of this case to limit the ban on insurrectionists who violate the oath to protect the Constitution from taking office as president.” Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett also wrote a separate opinion, saying, “It is sufficient to rule that the state government lacks authority.”
However, former President Trump’s judicial risk is ongoing. The Federal Supreme Court will hold a hearing on April 22 to decide whether to recognize the president’s ‘immunity’ claimed by Trump in relation to the Capitol riot. The results are expected to be released around July.
Meanwhile, Super Tuesday, the 5th, is the day when primary elections are held in a total of 16 regions, including 15 of the 50 U.S. states, including Colorado, and the overseas territory of American Samoa. The direction of one-third of all delegates (865 Republicans and at least 1,420 Democrats) will be decided on this day. The Trump camp expects to secure at least 773 delegates on Super Tuesday and drive a wedge into the Republican presidential nomination within March.
Former President Trump also won the North Dakota primary held the day before Super Tuesday, further increasing his chances of being selected as a presidential candidate.
Reporter Information Juhye Yoon jujusun@ajunews.com
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