January 6 2021 Insurrection

A simple solution to the threat of Donald Trump running for President again is to enforce the 14th Amendment, Section 3, as passed and added to the Constitution after the Civil War and during the Reconstruction Era.

Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee, the Chairman of the Judiciary Subcomittee on the Consitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties has proposed a measure to enforce this section of the 14th Amendment, and Senator Amy Klobucar, Chair of the Rules Committee, has done so in the Senate.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment reads as follows:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House remove such disability.

The US Attorney General could move to enforce this section of the Constitution before a three judge panel. Such individual would be disqualified from holding public office, once clear and convincing evidence that an office holder or former office holder engaged in insurrection or rebellion. Such individuals would also forfeit all benefits derived from their service in federal office, and would be prohibited from obtaining contracts with the federal government. And a former President would not be considered such for the purpose of receiving benefits under the Act.

Additionally, members of Congress who were involved in inciting and promoting what happened on January 6, 2021, would face the same penalties and lose their rights to serve or gain benefits from their past service!