Notorious ‘Never-Trumper’ Adam Kinzinger said Tuesday on CNN that the effort to remove former President Donald Trump from the ballot is “very divisive.”
The trial began Monday in Colorado District Court to determine whether Trump can be removed from the ballot. A left-leaning group filed a lawsuit that argues Trump cannot run because Section 3 of the 14th Amendment prohibits certain government officials who took an oath to the Constitution and then “engaged in an insurrection” from holding office.
Kinzinger said while he thinks the plaintiffs are “legally justified” to pursue the case, it’s not “the best thing for the country to heal through.”
“Because you can imagine if Donald Trump is removed from the ballot, you’re making a decision not by, you know, the election of people or the lack of election, you’re making the ballot basically by a court. And you’re making a decision by a court. I think that will be very divisive in the long-term,” Kinzinger said. “I can’t imagine a point at which anybody in the country or most people in the country would be like, ‘Oh ok well I understand a judge found him ineligible, therefore we’re okay with this.’ I just think It will be very divisive. Regardless of what is ruled, Donald Trump has to be defeated a the ballot because that’s the best way for this country to heal.” (RELATED: ‘Hold On’: CNN Legal Analyst Spars With Pundit Who Claims Trump Can Be Knocked Off Ballot In Colorado)
“This argument in court, again, I’m actually supportive of the argument. I think it’s correct. But it’s taking kind of a nuanced approach and saying he disqualified himself because of his word here and everything else. I just think the best answer is to defeat him at the ballot. But we do have to get – I agree with you, we have to get past this point of saying, ‘Oh, we can’t do this. We can’t do that.’ Because Donald Trump tried to commit a coup in this country.”
“Let’s be very clear. If he is not prosecuted and if he is not found guilty, what we have said is, it’s okay to attempt a coup, as long as you failed. But if you succeed, well, you’re in charge so you can drop the charges anyway,” Kinzinger said.
The judge overseeing the case, Sarah B. Wallace, was appointed by a Democratic governor and has refused to recuse herself from the case. Wallace donated to a Colorado group that said Jan. 6 was an insurrection and Trump was responsible.