U.S. News
NC voters file suit to disqualify Madison Cawthorn for reelection
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- A group of North Carolina voters filed a legal challenge to disqualify Rep. Madison Cawthorn from running for a second term.
- The group cites his involvement in a rally preceding the Jan. 6 riot on Capitol Hill last year.
- They say his action constitutionally bars him from reelection.
A group of North Carolina voters took dramatic legal action against Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s (R-N.C.) reelection bid on Monday, arguing that the Constitution prohibits insurrectionist lawmakers from holding office.
The nonprofit Free Speech For People filed a challenge with the North Carolina State Board of Elections on behalf of 11 North Carolina voters, stating that Cawthorn has violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Section 3 says that no person may hold political office “who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress … shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion.”
The section was initially aimed at lawmakers who had plotted or battled against the U.S. government during the Civil War.
The challenge says Cawthorn urged his supporters to “threaten” and “intimidate” members of Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. It also notes that Cawthorn and his staff were “in close contact” with organizers of the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the storming of the U.S. Capitol, and that Cawthorn himself spoke at that rally that day.
Efforts to halt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results “amounted to an insurrection,” the challenge adds.
“Publicly available evidence, including Rep. Cawthorn’s statements and reports that he or his office coordinated with the Jan. 6 organizers, establish reasonable suspicion that Rep. Cawthorn aided the insurrection, thereby disqualifying him from federal office,” said Ron Fein, legal director of Free Speech For People.
Cawthorn did not deny the accusations in the suit, but complained he was being attacked by “left-wing activists.” He tweeted: “I won’t be stopped. Help me fight back!”
He later added: “The woke mob won’t stop me.”
A handful of Democratic politicians and some constitutional law experts believe the 14th Amendment could also be used to stop Donald Trump from running for president again.
Trump told supporters at the Jan. 6 rally to march on the Capitol, “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” It took him more than three hours to take any action to quell the violence at the Capitol that erupted after the rally.
Cawthorn, who’s running in the newly created 13th Congressional District, has vigorously pushed baseless claims of a rigged presidential election and has also urged the use of violence.
He gloated in November after teenager Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted in Wisconsin of fatally shooting two protesters and injuring a third, urging all Americans to “be armed, be dangerous.”
At a GOP event last August, he warned of “bloodshed” if elections “continue to be rigged,” even though Trump’s own Justice Department and election security officials insisted that no widespread voter fraud occurred in 2020.
Last year, Cawthorn also accused American society of aiming to “de-masculate” young men and pleaded with mothers: “If you are raising a young man, please raise them to be a monster.”
Source: The Hill
Linde Barrera
January 11, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Madison Cawthorn should be re-elected for being a patriot and for urging people to exercise their right to free speech and assemble peacefully. I was present on Jan. 6 at the Capitol outdoor landing near the 2 scaffoldings, and thousands upon thousands of people surrounding me were peaceful as was I. There was no insurrection, but the DemoncRATS say there was an insurrection because they want people to believe their propaganda.
VirginiaOwens
January 11, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Madison Cawthorn os a much needed breath of fresh air for the NCGOP. The Democrats filing these charges obviously don’t fully understand the meaning of an insurrection. The real insurrections took place during 2020 with the destruction by BLM and Antifa in cities across the country with Democrats refusing to call for law and order
when our businesses and police departments and federal buildings were looted and burned and destroyed. True patriots of the USA want peace and order in our great country, not lawlessness, assault, murder and mayhem. we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in a society where education and history is valued and pursued, not distorted with lies. it is a sad day for our country when citizens are afraid to go out of their homes for fear of danger.
misrepresented by BLM and Antifa
James Clark
January 12, 2022 at 1:20 pm
This is a laugher because the left makes it known they don’t follow the Constitution.
Just one big example is when they changed voting laws without legislation in many states right before the 2020 election is against the Constitution so they could steal an election.Another is the current political prisoners rights under the Constitution being broken everyday. They’re a joke!!
Not again
January 12, 2022 at 5:46 pm
It’s always the same for the Democrats; if you can’t beat ’em then cheat ’em!
Nick Newton
January 13, 2022 at 9:25 pm
I am confused why we allow such trumped up charges be pushed by Democrats who just know they are going to be beaten so bad at the next election! There have been NO repeat NO charges of such activity against any person who were at the meeting of PATRIOTS complaining against a steal of the elections. The CROOKED COP who shot and killed Ashley has not been charged. In fact has not even been questioned as to why he shot an unarmed person who was standing with her hands by her side? Yet these so called DEMOCRATS want to try to push such a charge against an innocent person to try to prove how wonderful they are? I think he should charge them with Defamation and add a 50 MILLION fee as damages. It is time we all stopped being the nice guy who will take any accusation and hide afraid to answer. Grow some oranges sue them to hell and win your seat as it will happen. Stand up for what is right do not cower as they think you will!