The Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission has ruled out a challenge against the candidacy of former President Donald Trump, citing a lack of jurisdiction to address the issue. The challenge was based on Trump’s alleged role in the insurrection that took place on January 6, 2021.
Despite the victory for Trump, the commission refrained from delving into the contentious issue of his potential culpability in the deadly Capitol attack. The case was dismissed on procedural grounds during a meeting held on Monday.
Trump’s Eligibility Under Scrutiny in Several States
Massachusetts is not the only state where Trump’s eligibility to run for president is being questioned. The former president’s candidacy is under scrutiny in several states due to the “insurrectionist ban” outlined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. Trump has been removed from the ballot in Colorado and Maine, but these decisions are currently on hold as the US Supreme Court reviews Trump’s appeal in the Colorado case.
Commission’s Meeting and Arguments
The Massachusetts commissioners convened briefly in Boston last week to discuss procedural questions. Shannon Liss-Riordan, an attorney representing the challengers, argued that Trump’s candidacy and placement on the Massachusetts ballot violated the Constitution. “It is the job of this commission to hear objections to the legality of placement of candidates on the ballot,” Liss-Riordan stated.
Trump’s legal team, on the other hand, urged the panel to dismiss the objection. They have previously persuaded judges in Michigan, Minnesota, and other pivotal states to discard similar challenges on procedural grounds. Marc Salinas, a lawyer for Trump, argued, “There is nothing in the case law or the statutes that the commission is required to follow that says qualification to be on a ballot is a pre-condition to appear on the ballot.”
About the Massachusetts Commission
The Massachusetts commission is an independent, bipartisan panel. Its members are appointed by the state’s governor, with the chairman being a Republican appointee and the other two members being Democratic appointees. Decisions made by the commission can be appealed in Massachusetts courts.