Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals Rules ‘Insurrectionist’ Members of Congress May be Barred from Office in Cawthorn Case
The Gateway Pundit ^ | May 24, 2022 | Cristina Laila

Posted on 05/24/2022 7:44:03 PM PDT by Macho MAGA Man

The US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday overturned a lower court judge’s decision and ruled ‘insurrectionist’ members of Congress may be barred from office.

A three-judge panel on the appeals court made the decision in a lawsuit against GOP North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn.

Last week Madison Cawthorn lost a tight primary race in North Carolina after a relentless smear campaign.

But the Democrat-DC Swamp is still trying to destroy him and other ‘America First’ GOP members of Congress through lawfare.

Tuesday’s appeals court ruling legally binds only the states in the 4th circuit: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina – however it could set a precedent for lawsuits against GOP lawmakers in other states.

The Democrats are trying to block Arizona Reps. Gosar and Biggs from running for re-election.

Democrat lawyers are also trying to block Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia from running for office again.

...... snip.....

Circuit Judge Toby Heytens, nominated by President Joe Biden last year, framed the issue as whether legislation from 1872 lifted a “constitutional disqualification for all future rebels or insurrectionists, no matter their conduct.”

“To ask such a question is nearly to answer it,” Heytens wrote in Tuesday’s ruling. The 19th century law shielding candidates from the eligibility bar only applies to acts that occurred before it was enacted, he said.

The opinion from the Richmond, Virginia-based appeals court sends the case back to lower court in Raleigh, North Carolina, to be reconsidered.

Two other judges on the panel wrote concurring opinions: Julius N. Richardson, appointed by Trump, and James Wynn, appointed by Barack Obama.

(Excerpt) Read more at thegatewaypundit.com ...


TOPICS: Conspiracy; Government; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: 2022election; 2024election; 4thcircuit; andagain; bidenjudge; cawthorn; coupdetat; democrats; election2022; election2024; fourthcircuit; gaywaypundit; insurrection; insurrectionist; jameswynn; january6; johnkruzel; juliusrichardson; madisoncawthorn; marjoriegreene; notaninsurrectionist; obamajudge; tobyheytens; trump; trumpjudge; tyrantjudges
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-35 last
To: markomalley

I have to agree with your assessment.


21 posted on 05/24/2022 9:50:54 PM PDT by Macho MAGA Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
The RINO's come out to accuse MAGA candidates of insurrection:
Hannity attacks Barnette
https://twitter.com/Cernovich/status/1526420889712984064
22 posted on 05/24/2022 10:23:40 PM PDT by Steve Van Doorn (*in my best Eric Cartman voice* 'I love you, guys')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Trumpisourlastchance

Simply charge them as insurrectionists and remove them, using their own ruling as justification.


23 posted on 05/24/2022 10:28:54 PM PDT by Sgt_Schultze (When your business model depends on slave labor, you're always going to need more slaves)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Macho MAGA Man

watch

dissent will become insurrection

THE PARTY has spoken


24 posted on 05/24/2022 10:32:51 PM PDT by joshua c (Dump the LEFT. Cable tv, Big tech, national name brands)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Macho MAGA Man

“The opinion from the Richmond, Virginia-based appeals court sends the case back to lower court in Raleigh, North Carolina, to be reconsidered. “

Where the lower court should tell the corrupt 4th circuit to go pound sand. They should not be required to do the dirty work for the 4th circuit.

4th circuit infiltrated.


25 posted on 05/24/2022 10:37:04 PM PDT by Revel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Macho MAGA Man
Now trespassing has become insurrection, and insurrection has no requirement for due process to bar someone from being elected to office.

Sounds a lot like North Korea where the "dear leader" gets 100% of the vote. Great system we've got here where those in power can keep anyone they want from running against them.

26 posted on 05/24/2022 10:52:55 PM PDT by GaryCrow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jimwatx

Perhaps in a tongue-in-cheek way. But such action would really be stopping both a rebellion and an invasion, not to mention the theft of a nation.


27 posted on 05/25/2022 12:58:09 AM PDT by unlearner (Si vis pacem, para bellum. Let him who desires peace prepare for war.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Macho MAGA Man
The US Constitution:

Fifth Amendment

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

January 6, 2021, was NOT a time of war or public danger. If anyone loses their rights to hold office because of that, the challenge, in accordance with the Fifth amendment, is right there.

28 posted on 05/25/2022 7:59:29 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (Rush, we're missing your take on all of this!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
Note that this section does not say that you had to be found guilty of those crimes, merely that you committed them.

You should have read it more carefully. It does state '... if and when he is convicted thereof by a court martial or by a court of competent jurisdiction.'.

29 posted on 05/25/2022 9:02:19 AM PDT by RideForever (Oh damn! Another dangling par ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Macho MAGA Man
This will now be decided by the Fourth Circuit en banc since the three judge panel was so badly divided. The case could easily go to SCOTUS, although SCOTUS tends to duck election law cases by declaring a lack of "standing"...
30 posted on 05/25/2022 9:04:50 AM PDT by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RideForever

Read post #19 please.


31 posted on 05/25/2022 9:14:23 AM PDT by markomalley (Directive 10-289 is in force)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Macho MAGA Man
Gateway Pundit's ability to print an honest article is about on par with most Freepers' apparent ability to read a court opinion before commenting on it.

The 4th Circuit didn't "rule" that insurrectionist members of Congress may be barred from office. The plain language of the 14th Amendment says that.

The 4th Circuit held that the 1872 Amnesty Act does not apply to Madison Cawthorn, which it obviously does not, and therefore the district court erred in issuing an injunction against the North Carolina Board of Elections. The 4th Circuit explicitly "express[ed] no opinion about whether Representative Cawthorn in fact engaged in 'insurrection or rebellion' or is otherwise qualified to serve in Congress."

One of the concurrences, written by Judge Richardson, also correctly pointed out that the district court had no jurisdiction to consider Cawthorn's qualifications or lack thereof, because that issue is exclusively committed to the House under Article I, Section 5.

32 posted on 05/25/2022 9:28:34 AM PDT by The Pack Knight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
Read post #19 please.

Why waste my time if you are not going to address my point that the law says 'if convicted in court of proper jurisdiction', to which you respond

33 posted on 05/25/2022 9:46:24 AM PDT by RideForever (Oh damn! Another dangling par ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Franklin

But the panel had no disagreement on the outcome—they all voted to vacate the injunction. Heytens and Wynn held that the district judge was wrong on the merits in issuing the injunction because the 1872 Amnesty Act does not apply to Cawthorn. Richardson would have held that the district judge had no jurisdiction to issue it at all because the House is the sole judge of a candidate’s qualifications under the Constitution. It’s hard to imagine either en banc or SCOTUS review being granted on a non-outcome determinative dispute like this, and I certainly don’t think anyone in SCOTUS or in the 4th Circuit thinks the district judge actually got it right.


34 posted on 05/25/2022 11:29:19 AM PDT by The Pack Knight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Franklin

Also, Cawthorn’s primary loss will be certified, and this case will be moot, by the time either the en banc court or SCOTUS could possibly hear this case.


35 posted on 05/25/2022 11:42:09 AM PDT by The Pack Knight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-35 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson