Trump faces 14th Amendment ballot challenge in Illinois

Amid ongoing legal battles over his removal from the Republican primary ballots in Maine and Colorado, former President Donald Trump faces a new challenge to his eligibility for high office, this time in Illinois.

A group five Illinois voters, represented by Free Speech for People, has filed a challenge to Trump's eligibility under the 14th Amendment, contending that his actions related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot constituted "insurrection" and disqualified him from the presidency, The Hill reported.

"Trump gave aid and comfort to enemies of the Constitution by, among other things: encouraging and counseling the insurrectionists; deliberately failing to exercise his authority and responsibility as President to quell the insurrection; praising the insurrectionists, including calling them 'very special,' 'good persons,' and 'patriots'; and promising or suggesting that he would pardon many of the insurrectionists if reelected to the presidency," the filing claimed.

The move comes in the wake of a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that Trump was ineligible under the 14th Amendment, which Trump has since appealed to the Supreme Court. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows issued a similar determination in December, which Trump has challenged in state court. Bellows paused her decision to allow for Trump's appeal ahead of the March 5 GOP primary.

The Colorado Republican Party has independently petitioned the Supreme Court to reinstate Trump, arguing that "[u]nless the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision is overturned, any voter will have the power to sue to disqualify any political candidate, in Colorado or in any other jurisdiction that follows its lead."

"This will not only distort the 2024 presidential election but will also mire courts henceforth in political controversies over nebulous accusations of insurrection," the party added.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.