Republican lawmakers introduce resolution declaring Trump did not incite 'insurrection'

The fight to remove former President Donald Trump from ballots across the country is still ongoing, but he's also received a growing number of backers in Congress who are firmly against the idea.

According to The Hill, Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) unveiled a resolution this week that argues against the idea that Trump could be disqualified based on language in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

The Republican lawmakers, in their resolution, wrote that Trump "did not engage in insurrection or rebellion against the United States."

"We are here today to authoritatively express that President Trump did not commit an insurrection, and we believe Congress has a unique role in making that declaration," Gaetz said.

He added, "It’s not the job of the states and especially not the job of some bureaucrats in Colorado to make this assessment and interfere with the right of voters to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice."

JUST IN: ⚠️ Elise Stefanik and Matt Gaetz introduce resolution that says Trump "DID NOT ENGAGE IN INSURRECTION OR REBELLION against the United States."pic.twitter.com/aI2I00zysf https://t.co/XXqBh9vtFi

— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) February 6, 2024

Stefanik argued that the effort to remove Trump from state ballots is simply a politically-driven attempt to do whatever it takes to hamstring Trump's momentous presidential campaign.

She went on, "As President Donald Trump continues to dominate in the polls, extreme Democrats will stop at nothing in attempt to prevent President Donald Trump from returning to the White House."

The Hill added:

The resolution, which is nonbinding, would declare that it is “the sense of the House of Representatives” that Trump “did not engage in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or give aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."

A New York Times report indicated that Trump's eligibility has been challenged in 35 states so far.

Though he was removed from the ballot in Colorado and Maine, the Colorado issue has already made it to the Supreme Court, which is expected to rule soon on whether or not the 14th Amendment applies to Trump's situation.

Gaetz argued that the GOP lawmakers' resolution could help with the situation.

"If we’re the purported victim, in Congress, and we’re saying this was not an insurrection, I think that will hold a great deal of weight," Gaetz said.

Only time will tell if Trump's Republican allies in Congress will boost his defense.