BREAKING: Denver judge clears Donald Trump for 2024 Colorado ballot

On Friday, a Colorado judge cleared President Donald Trump to appear on the 2024 presidential ballot. This is a defeat for the leftist activists who sought to have him removed on 14th Amendment grounds.

The case sought to remove Trump from the ballot through the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment, which states that no person holding office "shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." 

The case was brought forth by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, DC on behalf of six voters in Colorado, alleging that Trump’s conduct on January 6, 2021 amounted to a violation of the constitution. Trump has neither been charged nor convicted of insurrection.

In closing arguments, attorney for the petitioners Sean Grimsley argued that Trump had engaged in an insurrection by inciting the mob on January 6 to attack the Capitol in an attempt to stop the election, according to CBS News.

"We are here because, for the first time in our nation's history, the president of the United States engaged in an insurrection," he said, summing up the petitioners' case. "Now he wants to be president again. The Constitution does not allow that."

According to the Colorado Sun, Grimsley said during closing arguments, "Donald Trump has disqualified himself from ever holding office again. Trump lit the fire that was the attack on the Capitol. He alone had the powers and authorities to put that attack down."

He showed videos and photos taken on the day of January 6, and cited social media posts from Trump.

Trump attorney Scott Gessler said there was no evidence that Trump intended to incite violence that day and added that violence does not equal an insurrection. He said the lawsuit was election interference, and was based on the report from the January 6 committee, which he said was one-sided.

"The petitioners are asking this court to do something that's never been done in the history of the United States," Gessler said. "The evidence doesn't come close to allowing the court to do it."

Gessler said, "President Trump came nowhere near engaging in violence, insurrection or anything approaching lawless activity."

Regardless of the judge’s decision, the case is expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Similar lawsuits looking to bar Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment have failed in Michigan and Minnesota.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.