Once again, Donald Trump triumphs: The judge dismisses the lawsuit.
Once again, Donald Trump triumphs: The judge dismisses the lawsuit © Image by State Of The Union
A federal judge dismissed a case that contested Donald Trump's right to appear on the Rhode Island presidential ballot
The Republican candidate's case was dismissed for lack of standing and for failing to show that it was in direct rivalry with Trump.
The lawsuit claimed that Trump's conduct violated the 14th Amendment, disqualifying him from the election. However, Trump's attorney countered that Congress and the Electoral College, not the courts, set eligibility requirements.
Texas-based Republican presidential write-in candidate John Anthony Castro filed the complaint, but it was dismissed by Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of the U.S. District Court.
Castro was not able to prove that he was a "direct and current competitor at the time that he filed his complaint," according to the court.
He was unable to prove that if Trump stayed on the ticket, he would actually sustain an injury.
"Castro fails to provide any evidence that he is genuinely in the race against Trump for contributions and votes."
"Federal courts presented with similar cases challenging the qualifications of presidential candidates have uniformly indicated that they present nonjusticiable political questions reserved for those entities," asserted Trump's attorney Gregory Piccirilli in his argument.
"This Court ought to follow suit."
