The obscure Republican presidential candidate and lawyer from Texas who has been actively filing lawsuits seeking to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the 2024 election based on the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment, John Anthony Castro, was recently arrested on federal charges.
Castro faces 33 counts of aiding the preparation of false tax returns, with prosecutors alleging that he defrauded the government by running a virtual tax preparation business that provided customers with inflated tax returns through false deductions.
The arrest occurred after an undercover police officer posed as a customer for Castro’s tax services. While a reputable tax preparer promised the undercover agent a $373 tax return, Castro claimed he could secure a $6,007 return and offered to split the difference in extra cash. Prosecutors stated that the tax forms filed by Castro contained nearly $30,000 in fraudulently claimed deductions.
In addition to his legal troubles, Castro’s efforts to challenge Trump’s eligibility in the 2024 election have faced setbacks. His ballot challenge in New Hampshire was dismissed, and similar cases in Florida, Michigan, and Nevada have been rejected. While multiple 14th Amendment lawsuits are still pending, none have made significant progress.
Notably, Colorado and Maine have removed Trump from their 2024 ballots based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, and the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal of the Colorado decision. The Maine Supreme Court has refrained from deciding whether Trump should be disqualified from its ballot, awaiting a ruling from the nation’s highest court.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider Trump’s appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision on February 8, addressing charges brought against Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith, which include conspiracy to deceive the United States and conspiracy against the right to vote. Smith did not charge Trump with inciting insurrection. The court’s decision on these matters remains uncertain, and the legal proceedings continue.
