Last week, House Democrats led by Rep. David Cicilline, introduced legislation to bar former President Trump from holding future federal office under the 14th Amendment. This bill has been proposed in response to the events of January 6th, 2021, when Trump incited a violent insurrection at the Capitol.

The 14th Amendment states that no one who previously took an oath to support the Constitution and engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” shall “hold any office, civil or military, under the United States.”

The Democrats claim that Trump “very clearly” engaged in an insurrection on January 6th, 2021, with the intention of overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election. They point to Trump’s refusal to denounce the violent mob that stormed the Capitol and his efforts to intimidate state and federal officials who refused to support his false claims of the election being stolen.

However, it is important to note that Trump was acquitted by the Senate in his second impeachment trial. Despite the Democrats’ attempts to paint Trump as a villain and a law-breaker, the Senate found that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Trump intended to incite violence.

Furthermore, the Democrats’ claim that the 14th Amendment prohibits Trump from holding future office is flawed. The Amendment was ratified in the aftermath of the Civil War, when ex-Confederates and seceded states rejoined the Union. It does not apply to President Trump’s situation, as he is not a former Confederate or a seceded state.

The attempted ban on Trump from office is an affront to our democracy and the American people. It is a clear attempt to deny Trump his right to serve in public office and to prevent his supporters from having their voices heard. The Democrats should not be allowed to use the 14th Amendment to silence the opposition and deny Trump his constitutional right to serve in public office.