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OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
A Rhode Island federal judge has rejected another challenge to former President Donald Trump’s 2024 ballot eligibility.
Obama-appointed U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. dismissed a 14th Amendment challenge to Trump’s Rhode Island ballot listing. John Anthony Castro, a lesser-known 2024 Republican presidential candidate, filed the lawsuit with several others in other states.
In October, the Supreme Court rejected Castro’s Florida appeal. Last week, the First Circuit ruled Castro lacked standing to sue in New Hampshire.
Castro’s lawsuits claim Trump is ineligible for office under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars officials who “engaged in insurrection” after taking an oath to the Constitution. He claims Trump’s candidacy will cost him voters and support.
McConnell based his decision on the First Circuit’s ruling that Castro was not “a direct and current competitor” of Trump when he filed his complaint. Thus, he has not shown that, as of that time, he had satisfied the injury-in-fact component of the standing inquiry, the court…
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