United States: Officials are investigating threats made against Colorado Supreme Court justices following their decision to ban former President Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential primary election, according to various reports.
An analysis by Advance Democracy and cited by NBC News unveiled that online posts advocating violence against the justices increased quickly in the 24 hours following the decision’s announcement.
On December 19, the state Supreme Court decided to disqualify Trump from holding office, according to the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, as his actions led up to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, which meant that he was “engaged in insurrection.”
“The FBI is aware of the situation and working with local law enforcement,” FBI spokesperson Vikki Migoya said in a statement emailed to multiple outlets. “We will vigorously pursue investigations of any threat or use of violence committed by someone who uses extremist views to justify their actions regardless of motivation,” the email further read.
The Denver Police Department came to a justice’s house on Thursday following an apparent hoax call, as per CNN. According to a police official, the department is expanding patrols near the residences of justice. Denver police did not immediately reply to a request for comment from USA Today.
A study received by NBC from the organization detailed various messages posted on pro-Trump forums, extreme websites, and Truth Social – Trump-owned social media.
“What do you call seven justices from the Colorado Supreme Court at the bottom of the ocean? A good start,” one post in the report stated, according to NBC.
“Kill judges. Behead judges. Roundhouse kick a judge into the concrete,” read another post.
The Colorado Supreme Court’s judgment is based on the justices’ determination that Trump incited an insurgency by inciting the mob that created a riot at the United States Capitol on January 6.
“President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president,” Colorado’s high court wrote in an unsigned opinion. “Because he is disqualified, it would be a wrongful act under the election code for the secretary to list him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot.”
14th Amendment doesn’t apply to the president as per the judgment passed by the Supreme Court. It was adopted after the Civil War and prohibited everyone “engaged in the insurrection” from holding public office.