A heated debate ensued between conservative attorney George Conway and CNN’s senior legal analyst Elie Honig regarding the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent decision to exclude Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballots. The discussion, marked by intense exchanges, delved into the legal intricacies of the ruling.
Conway, writing for The Atlantic, initially expressed skepticism about using Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify Trump. However, he shifted his stance after considering the dissenting opinions in the case, which he found remarkably weak in their arguments.
Honig, contrasting Conway, has expressed reservations about the ruling’s legal validity, particularly concerning Trump’s due process rights. He anticipates that the U.S. Supreme Court might overturn the decision.
The crux of the debate centered around Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits anyone from holding office in the U.S. if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion after previously swearing to support the Constitution. Honig highlighted Section 5 of the same amendment, arguing that it complicates the matter since Congress hasn’t specifically enacted legislation to enforce Section 3.
Conway countered this point, insisting that the insurrection clause is self-executing and doesn’t require additional congressional action. As the debate intensified, both analysts talked over each other, with Conway firmly dismissing Honig’s arguments as nonsensical and accusing him of employing “pretzel logic.”
The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision is based on Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, fueled by his claims of a stolen 2020 election. Following the state court’s decision, the Colorado Republican Party and Trump himself have expressed intentions to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.