Special Poll
In the ever-evolving landscape of American politics, an unexpected legal twist may throw a significant curveball into the potential candidacy of former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential race. A ruling dating back to 1968, which led to the exclusion of the Peace and Freedom Party’s presidential candidate from the ballot, has resurfaced as a potential basis for disqualifying Trump from appearing on voting cards in several states. This development comes as Trump faces legal scrutiny before the Colorado Supreme Court, stemming from allegations that he was involved in inciting the insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The 1968 Precedent
To understand the potential implications of this 55-year-old ruling, it’s essential to delve into the historical context. In 1968, Eldridge Cleaver, the presidential candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party, found himself excluded from the ballot in several states. The reason? Cleaver’s criminal record, including convictions for rape and assault, led to a disqualification based on “moral turpitude.”
The Moral Turpitude Argument
Fast forward to the present, and the term “moral turpitude” is once again making waves in the political arena, this time in the context of Donald Trump’s actions leading up to and during the January 6th Capitol riot. The legal argument being presented is that Trump’s alleged role in inciting the insurrection could be deemed an act of moral turpitude, paralleling the reasoning that kept Cleaver off the ballot in 1968.
Trump’s Legal Battle
The legal battle unfolding in Colorado centers around the accusation that Trump engaged in insurrection against the United States by spurring on the events of January 6, 2021. A lower court’s determination that Trump’s actions meet the criteria for insurrection has raised eyebrows and intensified the debate.
The Potential Ramifications
If the Colorado Supreme Court ultimately upholds the lower court’s decision and agrees that Trump’s actions constitute insurrection and, by extension, moral turpitude, it could set a precedent with significant consequences. States could potentially invoke the 1968 ruling as a basis for disqualifying Trump from appearing on their voting ballots. This, in turn, could reshape the landscape of the 2024 presidential race and introduce a host of legal and political debates.
Conclusion
As the legal saga surrounding Donald Trump’s alleged involvement in the events of January 6th continues to unfold, the specter of a 55-year-old ruling from 1968 looms large. The outcome of Trump’s case before the Colorado Supreme Court may determine whether the precedent set in the past can be applied to the present, potentially reshaping the trajectory of his political future and leaving a lasting mark on the landscape of American politics. Regardless of the outcome, it’s a reminder that the intersection of history and law can have far-reaching implications in the world of politics.