House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has strongly criticized reports that Democrats are working on legislation in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to keep former President Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot. The Court ruled that states do not have the authority to enforce Section 3 of the Constitution with respect to federal offices, including the Presidency.
According to a report from Axios, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., is already working on federal legislation that would prevent Trump from appearing on the ballot. However, Speaker Johnson’s spokesperson dismissed these efforts, stating that the American people, not the courts or Congress, should decide the next president.
Raskin mentioned a bill he introduced in 2022 with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., which would allow the Justice Department to take legal action to keep candidates off the ballot under the 14th Amendment. He plans to revise the bill in light of the Supreme Court’s decision and pair it with a resolution declaring Jan. 6 an “insurrection.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday was unanimous in stating that states do not have the authority to disqualify a Presidential candidate for insurrection. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed concerns that the majority’s decision limited potential federal enforcement options.
Raskin’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter. The ongoing debate highlights the political tensions surrounding Trump’s potential candidacy in the 2024 election.
