Noah Bookbinder, a former federal prosecutor who is currently serving as president of the government watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), continues to argue that Donald Trump is disqualified from holding the presidency again.
Bookbinder bases his argument in the restrictions found in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution against individuals connected to insurrections or related activity holding elected office. The provisions of that amendment were already used in a court case to remove a county commissioner in New Mexico who had actually joined the crowds on the streets of D.C. on January 6, and the same restrictions were also used for unsuccessful challenges against the eligibility for office of several Republicans in power who were accused of connections to what happened that day through their preceding rhetoric. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), for instance, helped drive the conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election that inspired the attack on the Capitol.
Bookbinder also promised legal action to seek the enforcement of what he believes to be the restriction on Trump holding the presidency once again. These restrictions are generally understood to apply to those who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution — such as is associated with various elected offices — and then turned against it.
“An important reminder in light of yesterday’s indictment: Donald Trump is disqualified from holding office under the 14th amendment for having engaged in insurrection whether he’s convicted of crimes or not, and we will take legal action to enforce his disqualification,” Bookbinder argued this week.
Trump has since appeared for his arraignment in the new criminal case that directly covers his attempts to overturn the documented election victory by Joe Biden, characteristically pleading not guilty. He continues to allege that he’s the victim of election interference, though the investigations that culminated in the three criminal cases he is facing were founded and publicly known before he confirmed he was running in another election (for president).
An important reminder in light of yesterday’s indictment: Donald Trump is disqualified from holding office under the 14th amendment for having engaged in insurrection whether he’s convicted of crimes or not, and we will take legal action to enforce his disqualification.
— Noah Bookbinder (@NoahBookbinder) August 2, 2023
