Minnesota judges reject attempt to stop Trump from voting under 14th Amendment

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a petition seeking to disqualify former President Donald J. Trump from office under the 14th Amendment.

Election officials and the courts did not have the authority to stop the Republican Party from offering him as its primary candidate, the justices found. They made no ruling on the merits of the 14th Amendment claim.

The presidential primary is “an internal party election to serve internal party purposes, and winning the presidential primary does not place the individual on the ballot for the general election as a candidate for president of the United States,” the court wrote. in an order signed by Chief Justice Natalie E. Hudson, with no known dissents.

“There is no state statute that prohibits a major political party from placing a primary on the presidential nomination, or sending delegates to the national convention in support of a candidate who is ineligible for office,” the report continued. “Because there is no error to correct here regarding the presidential primary candidate, and petitioners’ other claims regarding the general election are not yet mature, the petition must be dismissed.”

The court emphasized that the petitioners were free to refile the same claims later, challenging Mr. Trump’s inclusion on the general election ballot if he wins the Republican nomination. For now, no constitutional questions have been answered about whether the 14th Amendment applies to Mr. Trump.

This is a development story. Check back for updates.