Florida Judge Dismisses case that would kick Trump off the Ballot
But hey, we still got Michigan!
I greatly enjoy many progressive YouTube shows, but I find Meidas Touch delivers when it comes to legal analysis and YT punditry. One of my favorite programs on the channel is Legal AF, which stars experienced attornies Michael Popok and Karen Friedman Agnifilo (affectionately called KFA).
On Legal AF, the breakdowns are always enlightening, entertaining, and explained in ways that even my OCD mind can grasp. I honestly have not been able to find another program like it, and being on YouTube, many fun-of-the-cuff moments occur that make the hosts feel honest, accessible, and human, yah know, not like talking news bobbleheads.
In one of Legal AF’s recent videos, Michael examines the new Michigan lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, which seeks to keep Trump off the ballot in the coming Republican primary and general elections. This would be due to Trump’s more than significant participation in a nasty, Capitol-staining insurrection, which, under the 14th Amendment, would disqualify him from running from office.
There are several reasons why I heart this solution so much.
Get the SOB off the field!
Trump famously called Black football players like Colin Kaepernick “SOBs” for attempting to highlight social justice by kneeling during the stadium anthem. His guttural roar to have them expelled from the NFL for being—get this—non-patriotic was near deafening.
How poetic would it be to effectively erase Trump off the political playing field for being a “non-patriotic” traitor to his country?
I would celebrate for a week.
By Gum, this just may work
According to legal scholars, simply engaging in insurrection or rebellion under the 14th Amendment (Section 3) is enough to have him removed. In other words, Trump doesn’t have to be convicted for this to be effective—he need only be shown to have engaged in rebellion against the United States while in office.
Period.
Yippee Kiya M—!
There was another lawsuit filed by Boynton Beach by tax lawyer Lawrence Caplan in the Southern District of Flordia under the same Section 3 clause; however, against that may not be as strong a case, Popok explains. While the other lawsuit also claims Donald Trump is ineligible to be on the ballot based on his participation in the J6 insurrection, the stronger, far clearer case is the one just filed in Michigan by Robert Davis.
This is because Davis filed in a state with laws to support the proposition and judges who may be favorable to said proposition. Caplan also sued Trump directly, and Popok is right. The Judge in that case dismissed the lawsuit, saying the plaintiff had no standing.
Popok goes into it in greater depth and with better legal acuity than I can here.
No more election cover
Every millisecond on Truth Social, Trump screams “ELECTION INTERFERENCE!” particularly when he wants to rail against prosecutors and ongoing legal troubles. If he is no longer on the ballot, he has nowhere to run as the law bears down on him.
Taking away Trump’s binky is a brilliant strategy but extremely risky. Trump is currently the Republican front-runner, and many may see this as Democrats trying to skewer the election in their favor. This perception may cost us in the election.
On the other hand, if Drumpf is removed early enough, any indignation might be long diminished, especially as his crimes become more apparent. At that time, impotent rage would only be held by the most zealous MAGA supporters. In that respect, would it matter?
Even some extreme right Republicans are on board with giving the Mango Menace the ole heave-ho!
Two Federalist Society constitutional law professors, William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen, are all for getting Canteolpe Caligula off the ballot. They argue that Trump can be removed without a trial as his insurrection-based crimes are self-evident.
I’m no legal scholar, but I will say this—any nation that would install a man who seeks to dismantle its safeguards to install himself as king and who engaged in a bloody rebellion to make it so should be nowhere near the levers of power.
But hey, maybe that’s just me.
Any country dumb enough to leave an obvious Judas on the ballot fully deserves to be destroyed by him.
If the "public perception" turns against Democrats because they refuse to acknowledge someone who refuses to acknowledge democracy, then fuck the public, I say, and they are not fit to rule themselves.
The greater crime is to allow such a charlatan to even run and this show ourselves to all the world as no people to take seriously, that would allow to run someone whose campaign is essentially "elect me so that I may burn your legal system all to ash."
Though it is imperfect and in need of much reform, his way is no way at all but for ruin.
Wonderful, informative analysis, Alicia!
Great recommendation, I was already subscribed to Legal AF, but haven't been getting any notifications of new videos? I'll have to pay better attention.
Re the 14th, I'm torn between wanting tRump to be the GOP candidate because he'd lose bigly, and the joy of getting him disqualified. The GOP are all about pushing the norms, so why not test Constitutional boundaries on our side?
Lastly, do you have a sense if tRump is actually even really running? I read he hasn't even registered in ANY state and doesn't even have a campaign manager. It's all just another grift?
Anyway, thanks for you post!