FBI investigating threats against Colorado judges over Trump decision
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After the Colorado Supreme Court barred former US President Donald Trump from running in the state, the FBI is looking into possible threats against the Colorado judges responsible for the decision.
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Former President Donald Trump speaks during a commit to caucus rally, Tuesday, December 19, 2023, in Waterloo, Iowa. (AP)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is looking into threats against Colorado Supreme Court members.
The Colorado Supreme Court, earlier last week, determined that Donald Trump is ineligible for inclusion in the 2024 Republican primary ballot. This decision was based on his involvement on January 6, 2021 at the US Capitol, citing the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. The amendment prohibits individuals engaged in insurrection from holding public office.
The court's decision, which Trump plans to challenge through an appeal, has sparked an increase in hostile rhetoric on social media directed towards the justices by supporters of the former US president.
"The FBI is aware of the situation and working with local law enforcement," the agency was quoted as saying by the news portal.
A spokesperson from the Denver Police Department informed Axios that additional patrols were being implemented around the residences of the justices to ensure their safety.
A few days ago, the Supreme Court rejected the request by special counsel Jack Smith to fast-track considering former US President Trump's immunity from prosecution in the federal 2020 election interference case.
This move increases the possibility of his federal 2020 election trial stretching beyond the scheduled March 4 date, as the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will now consider the immunity question and oral arguments are due to begin on January 9.
Colorado court rules Trump disqualified
An appeals court in Colorado on December 20 ruled that Donald Trump cannot appear on the state's presidential primary ballot because of his involvement in the attack on the Capitol in January 2021.
The ruling, which only applies to the Colorado primary ballot, is the first of several legal actions across the country aimed at invoking the US Constitution's 14th Amendment, which bars from office anyone formerly sworn to protect the country who later engages in insurrection.
"A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution," the Supreme Court of the State of Colorado wrote.
"Because he is disqualified, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Colorado Secretary of State to list him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot."
