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A state judge from Illinois in the United States, forbidden Donald Trump appear on the state's presidential election ballot on charges of participating in an insurrection on January 6, 2021, when thousands of people breached the Capitol in Washington. The decision now applies to the Republican primary on March 19.
However, Judge Tracie Porter of Cook County Circuit Court postponed the start of the effect of his decision pending an appeal by the defense of the former US president.
Donald Trump is considered the favorite to become the Republican candidate in the elections. A Trump campaign spokesman said: “The decision is unconstitutional and…” We will file an appeal as soon as possible“.
With the ruling, Porter agreed with Illinois voters who argued that Trump should be disqualified from the state's March 19 primary and November 5 general vote for violating the counterinsurgency clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution .
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Courts in the states of Colorado and Maine have already ordered Trump's name removed from their ballots, but both decisions are currently on hold.
The group Free Speech For People, which led the disqualification effort in Illinois, called the ruling a “historic victory.”