Speaker Johnson, Congressional Republicans File Amicus Brief Supporting Trump’s Colorado Ballot Disqualification Appeal

January 18, 2024

Contact: Taylor Haulsee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz filed a Supreme Court amicus brief in the case Donald J. Trump v. Norma Anderson, et al. They were joined by 135 House Republicans, and 41 Senate Republicans.

In Trump v. Anderson, the U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether former President Donald Trump should remain on the ballot in the State of Colorado, after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that he should be removed, even though he is the current frontrunner to be the Republican Party’s presidential candidate. The group argues in their brief that “the Colorado Supreme Court’s opinion tramples the prerogatives of members of Congress.”

They also argue that the court “raced past numerous textual and structural limitations … which are primarily designed to ensure that Congress controls the enforcement and removal” of a president from office, and that the court “adopted a malleable and expansive view of ‘engage in insurrection,’ which will easily lead to widespread abuse” against the political opponents of those in power in the U.S. The legislators urge the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision.
Speaker Johnson said, “The Colorado Supreme Court engaged in a purely partisan attack against the frontrunner for the Republican presidential primary. Their decision, which has no basis in law, attempted to usurp the role of the American people and their elected representatives.

“I’m proud to join Senator Cruz, Majority Leader Scalise and 176 congressional Republicans in this amicus brief, asking the Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado court’s decision and let voters, not left-leaning courts, decide who will be president.”

Click here to view the full amicus brief.

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