Senator Tim Kaine suggests using 14th amendment to bar Trump from 2024 election

(WSET) — As voters and the nation prepare for the 2024 Presidential Election, one Virginia lawmaker believes the 14th Amendment can be used to remove former President Donald Trump from the ballot.

According to Congress.gov; section three of the 14th Amendment says the following about the disqualifications from holding office:

"No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability."

Over the weekend, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine (D) spoke to ABC's George Stephanopoulos about the 2024 election. Kaine told the ABC News anchor that there is a strong legal argument that the 14th Amendment could be used to remove the former President from the 2024 Presidential Race.

Kaine said that the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol was an effort to stop the peaceful transfer of the second impeachment trial. The Virginia Senator said he believed the 14th Amendment during the second impeachment trial.

"Do you believe that the President is disqualified under the 14th Amendment," Stephanopoulos asked.

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"I discussed this with colleagues at the time of the second impeachment," Sen. Kaine said. "George, I thought actually it might have been a more productive way to go."

After the second impeachment trial, the Republican-led Congress acquitted former President Trump.

However, some political experts, like Dr. David Richards, chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Lynchburg, argue that politicians need to be careful before thinking of invoking the amendment.

"I think the problem that I have with using the 14th amendment for this purpose is we are beginning to weaponize politics," Dr. Richards said. "I think we just need to be really careful that we're not getting in the way of the will of the people and the will of the voter. "I think it sets a bad precedent to start trying to legally disqualify candidates on the ballot for reasons other than the sorta most obvious reasons they wouldn't be eligible."

ABC13 also asked Dr. Richards if Republicans would want to invoke the 14th Amendment if the former President is found guilty during his trials.

"Do you think some Conservatives would join in that conversation if Trump is found guilty," ABC13 asked.

"I think that is highly unlikely," Dr. Richards said.

We also reached out to Congressmen Bob Good, Ben Cline, and Morgan Griffith, but ABC13 did not hear back from them.