(RightIsRight.co) – In a resounding win in the face of Democratic efforts to derail his presidential campaign, Illinois’ election board announced that it will keep former President Donald Trump’s name on the ballot for the primary.
The news comes just as the U.S. Supreme Court is getting ready to consider a major question on whether Trump should be allowed to run for president again following his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol.
The issue is not confined to Illinois. Similar efforts to question Trump’s eligibility based on the U.S. Constitution have popped up in several other states. The focus is whether Trump’s actions disqualify him from holding office under an “insurrection” clause in the Constitution.
Illinois’ board, with four Democrats and four Republicans, reached a unanimous decision. The result came after a hearing officer, who is also a retired judge and a Republican, reviewed the evidence.
He concluded there is “preponderance of the evidence” showing Trump is ineligible to run for president because he violated a constitutional ban on those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office.” However, the officer suggested letting this complex issue play out in court.
In turn, the board followed its lawyer’s advice to keep Trump on the ballot. The board reasoned that it did not have the power to decide if Trump violated the Constitution. Illinois’ decision leaves the door open for higher courts to make the final call.
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in a related case regarding Trump’s appeal of a Colorado ruling keeping him off the ballot.
