(The Center Square) – Lawsuits have been filed against President Joe Biden’s candidacy for the Illinois primary ballot.
The lawsuit brought by Terry Newsome and other Illinois voters alleges that under the 14th Amendment, Biden has “given aid or comfort to the enemies” through his open border policies.
“He left $75 billion of military equipment and weaponry in Afghanistan for the Taliban, who is our enemy,” Newsome said. “My niece’s husband is back in Iraq. What are they doing in Iraq? They’re using some of the weapons Biden left behind. So our weapons are being used against our own men and women because of Joe Biden.”
The lawsuit alleges Biden took an oath to support the Constitution nine times as both a U.S. senator and vice president and that he has given aid or comfort to the enemies of the U.S. Therefore, according to the 14th Amendment, they say he cannot hold any office.
“We are using the 14th against Biden, this is the exact same thing [they are doing to former President Donald Trump in Colorado] and it’s showing the hypocrisy of the left. Everyone on Twitter is already saying this is a frivolous lawsuit. This is going to be turned around by the Supreme Court,” Newsome said. “To me, I hope the Supreme Court throws it out but if it doesn’t … it’s a win-win for the right. If it doesn’t get thrown out then we have the same rights as the left does to hold Biden accountable for what he’s doing.”
The oath Trump took in 2017 does not pledge to “support” the Constitution. However, U.S. Senators specifically vow to “support” the Constitution. The lawsuits against Biden mirrors the one against Trump where the 14th Amendment is cited as the cause for ballot removal. Objectors to Trump allege he instigated the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
In a separate objection to Biden’s petitions in Illinois, Beth Findley Smith, an Illinois voter and LaSalle County’s District 4 board member, is seeking to remove Biden from the state ballot.
The crux of Smith’s objection lies in the notarization of Biden’s statement of candidacy. It was notarized by a notary commissioned in the District of Columbia, instead of an Illinois official as mandated by state law.
“This is pretty simple. I just want to make sure the Illinois Election Code is complied with, especially for a candidate for the presidency,” Smith said.
Trump’s statement of candidacy was notarized by a notary commissioned in Florida, but Trump’s petitions were not objected to on those grounds before the objection deadline.
Smith said she didn’t object to Trump’s petitions because she didn’t pull his petitions.
“We filed last Friday, which was the last day. It was a good strategy … so the other side couldn’t see what we were doing,” said Smith. “It’s a game. You have to play by the rules but you have to play the game.”
In the 2003, Illinois case Jackson-Hicks v. E. St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners, a ruling by an Illinois appellate court was to remove a candidate from the ballot due to the statement of candidacy being notarized by a notary commissioned in Missouri and not by a notary commissioned in Illinois.
“As far as I am concerned, with President Biden it should be cut and dry. He didn’t have an Illinois notary,” said Smith.
The Illinois State Board of Elections will hold a special meeting concerning these objections on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 9:30 a.m. Ballot certification is expected on Jan. 30. The primary in Illinois is March 19.
