Illinois judge rules Trump ineligible for Republican primary ballot over Jan. 6 riot
The judge put her ruling on hold to give Trump time to appeal before the state's March 19 primary. Illinois is the third state where Trump has been deemed ineligible.
An Illinois judge ruled Wednesday that former President Donald Trump should be taken off the ballot for the state’s primary election, citing the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Tracie R. Porter put her order on pause in anticipation of an appeal. The primary is March 19.
Porter’s ruling said that "based on engaging in insurrection on January 6, 2021, ... his name should be removed from the ballot."
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung bashed the ruling in a statement, arguing it was "unconstitutional" and saying it would be appealed. He also lashed out at Porter, calling her an "activist Democrat judge." The Trump campaign also began trying to raise money off of the decision shortly after it was filed.
A group of five petitioners asked the state to remove Trump from the primary ballot on Jan. 4, the day he submitted filings to appear on the ballot, Porter wrote in her ruling. The petitioners also asked the Cook County Circuit Court for judicial review of the matter.
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