(PatriotNewsDaily.com) – Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has cautioned states like Maine and Colorado against removing former President Trump from the presidential ballot. He reminded these states that the House of Representatives ultimately has the power to decide whether to certify the electors from these states on January 6, 2025.
Massie, in a post on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), emphasized the potential consequences for states that might exclude any Republican nominee through bureaucratic means. His post attracted attention, including a response from Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, who found the issue “interesting.”
The backdrop of Massie’s warning is the recent decisions by Colorado’s Supreme Court and Maine’s Secretary of State. Both declared Trump ineligible under the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause, pointing to his denial of the 2020 election results and his role in the events leading to the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. Massie suggests that during the routine certification process in January 2025, Congress might use its authority to reject electoral votes from states that deny Trump ballot access.
An interesting aspect of this scenario is Massie’s political stance. He has endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for the Republican presidential primary and notably did not oppose the certification of the 2020 election results following the Capitol attack. He also highlighted the importance of the Republican Party maintaining its current majority in the House for any potential action in 2025.
However, the challenge to electoral results in 2025 will be more difficult due to the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022, which requires a larger portion of Congress members to object to state results.
The situation is still evolving. Trump’s campaign intends to legally challenge Maine’s decision, and Colorado’s ruling is pending review by the U.S. Supreme Court. Maine’s decision has faced criticism, even from those who have previously opposed Trump, like Senators Angus King and Susan Collins.
In contrast, other states have dismissed similar claims about Trump’s eligibility. The Minnesota Supreme Court and a Michigan court have both ruled against using the 14th Amendment to determine Trump’s eligibility to run for office.
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