THE LATEST STATE TRYING TO REMOVE INDICTED FORMER PRESIDENT AND CURRENT REPUBLICAN FRONTRUNNER DONALD TRUMP FROM THE BALLOT.

THIS AS THE SUPREME COURT PREPARES TO RULE ON COLORADO'S BALLOT CHALLENGE IN EARLY FEBRUARY.

AND IN ANOTHER SURPRISE MOVE LAST THURSDAY WHEN TRUMP FILED HIS NOMINATING PETITIONS TO APPEAR ON ILLINOIS'S MARCH 19TH PRIMARY BALLOT, HE CHOSE NOT TO SIGN THE CUSTOMARY LOYALTY OATH PLEDGING NOT TO SUPPORT THE OVERTHROW GOVERNMENT.

AND JOINING US IS ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THOSE FIGHTING VOTERS CHALLENGING TRUMP'S ELIGIBILITY TO APPEAR IN THE MARCH 19TH BALLOT.

JUSTIN TREZ NOWITZKI IS A PARTNER WITH THE FIRM HUGHES SO-CALL PIERS RESNICK AND M JUSTIN, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH FIRST OF ALL, WHO ARE THE PLAINTIFFS TO BRING THIS CASE IN ILLINOIS?

THANKS, PARIS.

THE 5 PLAN OF SPRING IN THIS CASE ARE A DIVERSE GROUP OF VOTERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

>> AND WHILE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS AND AFFILIATIONS, THEY SHARE A BELIEF THE IMPORTANCE OF UP UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION, INCLUDING SECTION 3 OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

AND YOUR FIRM IS REPRESENTING PRO BONO.

GIVE US THE MAIN LEGAL ARGUMENT WHY YOU BELIEVE TRUMP IS INELIGIBLE FOR THE ILLINOIS BALLOT WEEK LIKE SIMPLE.

LAST WEEK DONALD TRUMP FILED IS NOMINATING PAPERS, CERTIFIED THAT HE WAS QUALIFIED FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT.

NOW THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS A MANDATORY DUTY TO LOOK AND SEE WHETHER SOMEONE WHO SAYS THEY'RE QUALIFIED ACTUALLY IS QUALIFIED AND DONALD TRUMP IS BECAUSE HE ENGAGED INSURRECTION ON JANUARY 6, 2021, HE'S BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT AND OR SECOND THROUGH THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

AND SO HAS CERTIFICATION THAT HE WAS QUALIFIED AS FALSE AS NOMINATION PAPERS ARE INVALID.

AND THAT WAS THE ARGUMENT THAT THE COLORADO SUPREME COURT RULED ON.

SO LET'S READ PART OF SECTION THROUGH THE 14TH AMENDMENT SAYING, QUOTE, NO PERSON, SHELL HOLD ANY OFFICE, CIVIL OR MILITARY UNDER THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVING PREVIOUSLY TAKEN AN OATH TO SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION.

UNITED STATES SHOW OF ENGAGED IN INSURRECTION OR A BILLION AGAINST THE SAME OR GIVEN AID OR COMFORT COMFORT TO ENEMIES.

>> BUT IT DOES SAY HOLD OFFICE.

THERE DOESN'T SPEAK ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

IS THAT IS THAT NUANCE IMPORTANT THAT ALL IN THIS ARGUMENT?

>> NOT NOT IN THIS ARGUMENT BECAUSE THE AGAIN THE ISSUE IS, IS HE QUALIFIED FOR THE OFFICE?

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE SWORE HE WAS WHEN WHEN HE FOUND HIS NOT A PAPER YEARS, HE SAID I AM QUALIFIED FOR THE OFFICE OF A PRESIDENT UNDER SECTION THROUGH THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

HE'S NOT QUALIFIED.

HE'S DISQUALIFIED.

AND SO BY SAYING HE WAS QUALIFIED, HE MADE A FALSE STATEMENT IS NOT A FAVORITES ARE INVALID AND YOU CAN'T BE ON THE BALLOT.

>> HE'S GOING TO SAY HE DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN ANY KIND OF INSURRECTION.

AND AT THIS POINT HE'S NOT CONVICTED YET FOR HIS HE IS GOING TO STAND TRIAL FOR HIS ROLE IN JANUARY 6 AND EFFORTS TO OVERTHROW THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.

DOES IT MATTER THAT THERE'S NO ACTUAL CONVICTION?

>> WELL, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER.

THERE WAS AN INSURRECTION.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE DISPUTES THAT THERE'S INSURRECTION ON JANUARY TRUMP'S OWN DEFENSE LAWYERS AND THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING ADMITTED THAT IT WAS AN INSURRECTION WHETHER TRUMP ENGAGED IN INSTRUCTION IS ALSO NOT A CLOSE QUESTION.

DONALD TRUMP WASN'T BYSTANDER ON JANUARY 6TH.

HE WAS ON WHO IS SPEARHEADING THE LIE THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN.

IT WAS TRUMP WHO SUMMONED HIS SUPPORTERS TO THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6TH.

TRUMP WAS THE ONE WHO TOLD SUPPORTERS TO MARCH TO THE TO TO THE CAPITAL AND TELL THEM TO FIGHT.

AND WHILE THE CAPITAL IS BEING OVERTAKEN, HE SAT AND WATCHED IT HAPPEN.

HE DIDN'T PLAY THE NATIONAL GUARD.

DIDN'T ASK SUPPORTERS TO STOP.

DIDN'T ACT LIKE A PRESIDENT.

HE ENABLED THE INSURRECTION TO CONTINUE AND AT A MINIMUM HE ENGAGED IN IT.

>> AND WE ALSO KNOW THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT HE ENGAGED ALLEGEDLY IN A PLOT TO HAVE ALTERNATIVE ELECTORS, FAKE ELECTORS TRY ANYWAY TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OF THOSE ELECTION.

SO YOU UNLIKE OTHER STATES, YOU'RE GOING TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HERE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO THE STATE COURT SYSTEM LIKE THEY DID IN COLORADO.

WHY GOING TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS?

WELL, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS UNDER ILLINOIS LAW WHO DETERMINES WHETHER CANDIDATES WHO SAY THEY'RE QUALIFIED FOR OFFICE ACTUALLY ARE.

AND THE ONUS SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN CLEAR.

THAT IS THE BOARD'S DUTY TO EVALUATE WHETHER A CANDIDATE ACTUALLY IS QUALIFIED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BOARD HAS DONE THIS IN THE PAST TODAY.

LOOK AT WEATHER.

A CANDIDATE FOR IS 35 YEARS OLD OR WHETHER THEY NEED TO NATURAL BORN CITIZEN REQUIREMENT.

SECTION 3 OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT IS JUST ANOTHER TOUGH TO SHAKE OFF HAITIAN THAT THE BOARD TO SCREAM COURT HAS TOLD US IS REQUIRED TO CONSIDER WHEN ADDRESSING THIS OBJECTION.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE BOARD MIGHT PUNT THIS TO THE STATE COURT SYSTEM?

IT'S HARD TO ANTICIPATE WHAT THE WHAT THE BOARD WILL DO.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT DEALING ICE CREAM COURT HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR ON THIS.

THEY SAID THEIR DUTY IS MANDATORY WE'VE RAISING OBJECTIONS SAYING TRUMP SAID HE WAS QUALIFIED.

HE'S NOT AND IT'S THE BOARD'S DUTY TO ASSESS WHETHER THAT'S TRUE OR NOT.

THIS IS A STATE SUPREME COURT SIMILAR TO THE COLORADO SUPREME COURT WHERE WHERE THE MAJORITY APPOINTEES WERE APPOINTED BY DEMOCRATS.

DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE A MORE FAVORABLE ROUTE?

>> GOING THAT DIRECTION.

YEAH.

WHAT IS REALLY HAVE ABOUT IS >> THE LAW THE LAW HERE IS CLEAR.

AS I SAID BEFORE, IT'S CLEAR THAT TRUMP ENGAGED IN INSURRECTION.

IT'S ALSO CLEAR UNDER THE 14TH AMENDMENT THAT SOMEONE WHO SWEARS THEY UPHOLD AND PROTECT THE USS CONSTITUTION AND THEN THEY ENGAGED IN INSURRECTION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

THEY FORFEITED THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE IN THE FUTURE.

THE LAW WAS CLEAR AND NO MATTER WHO THE COURT IS.

I THINK THE LEGAL ARGUMENTS ARE ARE STRONG IT A REALLY GOOD CHANCE OF PREVAILING THERE.

MANY THAT SAY THAT DOING THIS SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT AND REGARDLESS OF TRUMP'S ROLE IN THE INSURRECTION THAT IT STILL SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE VOTERS TO DECIDE WHAT HE WHAT HE SAY THAT.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY STILL BE VOTERS WHO SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN VOTERS WHO WANTED TO VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA FOR A 3RD TERM.

BUT PART OF WHAT LIVING IN A DEMOCRACY MEANS IS THAT WE RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW AND INCLUDING THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW, WHICH IS OUR CONSTITUTION, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN OUR FRAMEWORK, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION CLEAR FOR GOOD REASON.

WE AMEND THE CONSTITUTION AFTER THE CIVIL WAR TO SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO SOROS THE CONSTITUTION AND THEN ENGAGE INSURRECTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE IN THE FUTURE AND THAT'S THE LAW.

EVERYONE IS BOUND BY AND TRUMP IS A OFF OF THE BALLOT IN COLORADO PENDING AN APPEAL.

RIGHT NOW WE LEARNED THAT THE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO HEAR ARGUMENTS.

>> ON THAT CASE ONE MONTH FROM NOW, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO GO?

I'M NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF PREDICTING THE COURT WILL RULE.

THE TRUTH IS THERE THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY OF RELIEF WE COULD SEE FROM THE SUPREME COURT.

>> ALL THE WAY FROM AFFIRMING THE COLORADO SUPPORTS RULING THAT TRUMP IS INELIGIBLE TO RULING SAYING SECTION 14 I SECOND TO THE 14TH AMENDMENT SOMEHOW DOESN'T APPLY.

THOSE A WIDE RANGE OF RELIEF IN THE MIDDLE THAT COULD SAY THAT SOMETHING ABOUT THE COLORADO PROCEEDING WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT WITH THE COLORADO PROCEEDING, IT HAS TO BE SENT BACK FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY AT THIS POINT.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

YOU THINK BASED SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT AND BASED ON.

>> THE RULING IN COLORADO THAT THEY USE SOUND.

BASICALLY LEGAL ARGUMENT TO COME TO THEIR RULING THAT THE SUPREME COURT'S OWN PAST PRESIDENT WITH SUPPORT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE THE COLORADO SUPREME COURT'S DECISION AS THOROUGH WELL-REASONED WOULD WOULD HOPE THAT THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT WOULD WOULD WOULD WOULD CONSIDER IT AND THEIR OWN RULING.

AND WE THINK THAT THE SITUATION HERE IN ILLINOIS IS ANALOGOUS AND THAT SIMILAR RESULTS OBTAINED HERE.

>> INTERESTINGLY, WE MENTIONED THAT THE TRUMP TURNED IN HIS NOMINATING PETITIONS.

CHOSE NOT TO SIGN A NORMAL LOYALTY OATH, SWEARING THAT HE WOULDN'T SUPPORT THE OVERTHROW OF THE GOVERNMENT OR HE CHOSE NOT TO SIGN THAT PART OF IT.

THAT PLEDGE IS NOT REQUIRED TO LONGSTANDING TRADITION.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, OUR FOCUS IS REALLY ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUALIFICATION THAT'S THAT'S THE THAT'S THE BINDING LAW HERE.

AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES TRUMP INELIGIBLE FOR OFFICE.

AND SO WE'VE WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THAT AND WE THINK THAT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE DONALD TRUMP INELIGIBLE QUICKLY.

THAT BOARD LIKE HE'S GOING TO HEAR THIS PRETTY SOON.

CORRECT?

YES, JANUARY 17TH IS ALL THE HEARINGS ON OBJECTIONS WILL COME OUT 17.

SO WE WILL WAIT