The FBI is looking into a surge in violent threats against the Colorado justices who ruled that former President Donald Trump should be disqualified from appearing on the 2024 primary ballot.
In the aftermath of the Colorado State Supreme Court’s decision, social media outlets have been flooded with threats against the justices, and Lisa Monaco, the number-two official at the Justice Department, told ABC News that the violent language comes at a time where threats against public officials are spiking to new levels.
“The FBI is aware of the situation and working with local law enforcement,” the agency said in a statement. “We will vigorously pursue—investigations of any threat or use of violence committed by someone who uses extremist views to justify their actions regardless of motivation.”
The justices ruled Tuesday that Trump is disqualified from appearing on the state’s primary ballot under the Constitution’s insurrection clause due to his actions on January 6, 2021, and the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The justices ordered Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold to exclude Trump’s name from the Republican presidential primary ballot.
“We conclude that because President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Secretary to list President Trump as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot,” the court’s majority wrote in an unsigned opinion. “Therefore, the Secretary may not list President Trump’s name on the 2024 presidential primary ballot, nor may she count any write-in votes cast for him.”
The situation began in September when Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW), a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group, filed a lawsuit on behalf of six Republican and unaffiliated voters in Colorado, claiming Trump breached the Insurrection Clause.
While Trump is only disqualified in the state, lawsuits have been filed in 25 states challenging his candidacy ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Despite the ruling and the criminal and civil cases Trump is facing, he is still leading all Republican candidates in the polls by a wide margin.
Despite the ruling, Trump will appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, likely leading to a high-stakes decision over his eligibility to run by a court to which Trump appointed three members.
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