As Richard Nixon’s former White House Counsel, John Dean knows a thing or two about what it looks like when the wheels of Justice begin grinding against a Presidency, or, in this case, against a candidate for that office; it was, after all, his testimony in the Senate Watergate Hearings regarding his interactions with Nixon after the break-in that most damaged Nixon and eventually lead to his resignation.
So, when Dean predicts big trouble for Trump resulting from Maine’s Secretary of State removal of his name from next year’s ballot yesterday in that state – perhaps he is worth listening to:
“Maine on Thursday nixed the 45th president from being able to appear on the GOP primary election ballot, and John Dean believes it spells danger for The Don.
“Trump’s in trouble,” the Nixon attorney Dean said while appearing on CNN. “He’s in trouble wherever this is raised and addressed.”…
…The decision in Maine mirrors the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision earlier this month that also decided to knock Trump from the ballot.
“I think the Maine decision is very solid,” Dean noted. “It was fully briefed. There is ample due process in this proceeding. And they just lost by a straight, honest reading of the 14th Amendment.””
And, as a lawyer formerly tasked with advising the office of the Presidency on all aspects of the law and how they impact that office, Dean knows full well that there is no language in the 14th Amendment that precludes the Presidency from its stark prohibition against those who have engaged in insurrection again holding public office as Trump’s allies insist:
“No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”
“Or hold ANY office”. I think the language could not be clearer.
But, in case Republicans continue to insist they are unable to read, Dean further stressed his expert opinion on the matter:
“I think the Maine decision is very solid,” Dean noted. “It was fully briefed. There is ample due process in this proceeding. And they just lost by a straight, honest reading of the 14th Amendment.”
Dean acknowledges that there will likely be a higher ruling coming from the Supreme Court, but he believes the case against Trump being able to run to become the 47th president is strong.
“I want to see those strict constructionists and originalists get around that language,” he said. “How are they going to do it? I don’t know… I don’t know what they can do with it other than take him off the ballot.”
Of course Dean felt compelled to add the caveat “staight, honest reading” because he is aware that this current iteration of SCOTUS has amply demonstrated that, when it suits them, they can be neither.
Hear’s the video on YouTube:
This is Federer smashing a topspin bullet into the Supreme Court. Reforming this rotten institution could be a massively winning election issue if Democrats would only seize the opportunity.
If we dodge this proverbial bullet to the head ending our democracy, and get control of the white house and congress, then goddamnit democrats…have the balls to fix this fascist Supreme court.
There’s a whole crew in the House and Senate that should be disqualified. Everyone keeps saying leave it up to the voters. We did. They ratified the contents of the constitution. And it clearly states its time for these insurrectionists to take a hike. Get over it!