A federal judge has blocked a bid to remove President Trump from the 2024 Republican primary ballot in West Virginia, ruled by District Judge Irene Berger. John Anthony Castro, an unknown Republican candidate, argued that Trump was ineligible to appear on the state’s ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The decision comes after Colorado’s Supreme Court removed Trump from the state’s ballots, causing a potential U.S. Supreme Court review of the issue.
Judge Berger wrote in her decision:
“The evidence establishes that [Castro] has no campaign offices, staff, or advertising in West Virginia, does not appear in polling, has little name recognition among West Virginia Republican primary voters, and has extremely minimal campaign funds, vastly insufficient to run an actual campaign.
“If there were any question as to whether the allegations in the complaint are sufficient to overcome a facial challenge, the evidentiary submissions remove any doubt that Mr. Castro’s purported ‘campaign’ exists as a vehicle for pursuing litigation, not votes.”
Federal judges in Arizona and Rhode Island found Castro unfit for office, and noted he’s not serious about running for office. The Supreme Court declined to hear Castro’s appeal in Florida in October.
Republican West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey praised the judge’s ruling in a statement, according to News and Sentinel.
“This is a big win for the integrity of our elections,” Morrisey said.
“This lawsuit was frivolous to begin with and without merit – it had no basis in either law or fact.
“Any eligible candidate has the right to be on the ballot unless legally disqualified, and we will defend the laws of West Virginia and the right of voters and candidates to the fullest.”
The Colorado Supreme Court has halted its ruling against Trump until January 4. If Trump appeals before that date, the ruling will remain suspended, and the Secretary of State will need to place Trump’s name on the ballot by January 5, unless justices intervene. The lawsuit against Trump was filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
SOURCES: NEWS AND SENTINEL, COURT MEMORANDUM
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