Do Gag Orders Violate Trump’s Right To Free Speech?

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The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that former President Trump is eligible to be listed on the state’s primary ballot, rejecting a 14th Amendment-based challenge. The order, issued on Wednesday, clarifies that state courts and officials don’t have the power to stop the Republican Party from nominating Trump for the GOP primary. The decision was made with a majority opinion after two justices stepped back from the case.

The court emphasized that the primary election is a party-centric activity meant for selecting party representatives and does not guarantee a place on the general election ballot. They further stated that there is no legal provision that prevents a political party from endorsing or selecting delegates for a potentially ineligible candidate.

This challenge, initiated by a progressive organization, is part of a series of national attempts to block Trump’s candidacy under the 14th Amendment, which bars individuals involved in insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution from holding office. However, the court declined to decide on Trump’s eligibility for the general election ballot, suggesting the issue could be reconsidered if Trump wins the nomination.

Nationally, similar legal actions are in progress, including an ongoing trial in Colorado and other cases in preliminary phases. Trump’s campaign has denounced these challenges as unconstitutional and politically motivated, with his spokesperson accusing left-wing groups of acting as surrogates for the Democratic Party and calling for such challenges to be dismissed.