Colorado sec of state claims keeping Trump on the ballot would be ‘confusing and potentially suppressive’

She argued that the former president "cannot assume office," despite the fact that the Supreme Court has not yet handed down a ruling on the matter.

"States like Colorado believe that it is confusing and potentially suppressive to put a candidate on a ballot who cannot assume office," Griswold said during an interview with MSNBC, likening the state's case against Trump under the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment to the fact that non-natural born citizens are also barred from having their name on the list.

"We kept Donald Trump off because he is disqualified, from our perspective, under the Constitution for being an oath-breaking insurrectionist."

In December, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that Trump was disqualified from appearing on the primary ballot under the 14th Amendment. While Griswold held steadfast to her belief that the former president had engaged in an insurrection, she announced near the end of the month that he would be allowed to remain on the list of candidates lest the United States Supreme Court affirmed the state court's ruling.

Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case. The justices questioning indicated that Colorado would not be permitted to remove Trump from the ballot.

In a press conference afterwards, Griswold said it was "outrageous" that Trump dared cite presidential immunity, adding, "I don't believe that ‘the president’ is a get-out-of jail-free card."

"I'm hopeful the justices will look at the facts with an open mind, and make a big decision for the United States to protect our democracy from the danger of another Trump candidacy and another Trump presidency."