Effort to Block GOP Reps From Running Because of Jan. 6 Goes Down to Withering Defeat – Opinion

The Democrats seem to be in peril as they head towards the midterms. They realize that their chances of being slaughtered are high. But it’s well deserved because of the horrible policies they’ve put forth, and the terrible job that Joe Biden has done.

So, they don’t have too many options. They’re trying the redistricting game in the hopes that they can steal some seats that way. They’re going to try to play the Jan. 6 committee for all its worth, in the hopes that they find things to hurt Republicans with, like the tape of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

They’re also trying the gambit of trying to block out some Republicans by accusing them of being “insurrectionists” and filing cases to keep them off the ballot. The irony of that is that they’re claiming that the Republicans were behind efforts to overcome the election. Yet, it’s Democrats who are pre-emptively trying to keep Republicans off the ballot so the voters can’t vote for them. It’s a losing situation.

Plaintiffs, the group Free Speech for the People, are trying to invoke Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which forbids elected officials, from insurrection, or rebellion, to get Rep. Paul Gosar, Rep. Andy Biggs, and State Rep. Mark Finchem off the Arizona ballot.

Except there were a few problems with the argument — none of the three were involved in the Jan. 6 riot that Democrats have tried to call an insurrection. Plaintiffs attempted to argue that they participated in Jan. 6 rally. However, the rally is not the same as the riot. Gosar and Biggs did vote to not accept the electoral count from some states — much the same way as many Democrats have done after prior presidential elections. That’s not an “insurrection” — indeed, that’s part of their power as members of Congress to accept the count (or not). While the Democrats said they were protecting democracy when they did it; the Republicans claimed that they were attacking democracy. It is such hypocrisy.

But the effort to block out the Republicans didn’t fly in court, and the case was booted by the Arizona judge, who found they didn’t have a private right of action.

In his advisory opinion, Coury noted that Finchem, Gosar and Biggs have not been “charged with or convicted of any state or federal crime that relates to insurrection or rebellion.”

Biggs and Gosar both argued Congress only has the Constitutional power to decide the qualifications for its members. Coury found this argument persuasive.

“It would contradict the plain language of the United States Constitution for this Court to conduct any trial over the qualifications of a member of Congress,” Coury’s opinion said. “Moreover, a state judicial trial relating to the qualifications of Rep. Biggs and Rep. Gosar arguably implicates the doctrines of federalism and separation of powers between the branches of the government.”

There’s also a case currently ongoing against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). That case, though it should be dismissed, should still go forward. If the court pays attention, however, the judge should rule in her favor. Another similar case was filed against Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R–NC). It was also dismissed.

Anyone trying to block out the GOP like this doesn’t believe in allowing the voters to decide for themselves. They’re trying to block the will of the people — while hypocritically pretending to protect it.