Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has issued a stern warning, suggesting that President Joe Biden could face removal from the state’s primary ballot. This move echoes recent actions taken against former President Donald Trump in Colorado and Maine.
Ashcroft, critical of the decisions in Colorado and Maine, denounced them as “disgraceful” and a threat to the republic, as reported by LeakXtra on Saturday, January 6.
Speaking to NBC News, he expressed his expectation of Supreme Court intervention, stating, “While I expect the Supreme Court to overturn this, if not, Secretaries of State will step in & ensure the new legal standard for @realDonaldTrump applies equally to @JoeBiden!”
The controversy surrounding Trump’s exclusion from primary ballots in Colorado and Maine, linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and his refusal to accept defeat, has prompted Ashcroft’s concerns.
Filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, Ashcroft fears a potential ripple effect if Colorado’s disqualification stands. He argues that if Democratic states can bar Republicans, retaliation from Republican states could ensue, posing a significant threat to the integrity of future elections in the United States.
Ashcroft justifies the hypothetical disqualification of Biden by pointing to the border situation, claiming the president allowed an “unstopped invasion.” Furthermore, he implicates Vice President Kamala Harris for allegedly supporting those rebelling against the U.S. government during the 2020 riots following George Floyd’s murder.
Ashcroft highlights the lack of a clear standard for such disqualifications, stating, “If this is the standard, does that suddenly mean she’s not allowed to run? None of us can say, because there is no standard.”
While the Biden campaign has not commented on the matter, spokespersons from other states have welcomed Supreme Court involvement
Kentucky’s Secretary of State Michael Adams sees it as an opportunity to ensure clarity for all Secretaries of State. Texas’ Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggests that Texas might consider similar actions against Biden for the border situation
Amid the controversy, Trump remains on the primary ballots in Colorado and Maine as their legal systems navigate these complex cases. The Maine case, distinct from Colorado, involves a Democratic secretary of state’s determination that Trump is ineligible, underscoring the complexities and implications for future elections.
Ashcroft, despite his opposition to secretaries deciding ballot eligibility, remains vigilant about the potential repercussions of these decisions on the democratic process.
