'There's a powerful argument' Trump is disqualified for presidency under 14th Amendment: says Kaine

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia asserted on Sunday that there is a robust legal argument to apply the 14th Amendment to disqualify former President Donald Trump from running in the 2024 election. Kaine pointed to Trump's involvement in the January 6th Capitol attack as the basis for this argument.

Following the events of January 6th, Trump faced impeachment by the House of Representatives for inciting an insurrection while attempting to overturn the election results. Ten Republicans and all Democrats in the House voted to impeach him. Although Trump denied any wrongdoing, and despite seven members of his own party joining Democrats to support his conviction, the Senate ultimately acquitted him.

Kaine, in an interview "this Week", expressed his perspective on the Capitol attack, stating, "In my view, the attack on the Capitol that day was designed for a particular purpose at a particular moment, and that was to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power as laid out in the Constitution." He added, "So I think there's a compelling argument to be made."

Kaine emphasized the specificity of the language in the 14th Amendment, which states that individuals who, while in a prior office, took an oath to support the Constitution but then "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or [gave] aid or comfort to the enemies thereof" are ineligible for future office unless granted amnesty by a two-thirds vote of Congress.

While some legal scholars and advocacy groups believe this provision could apply to Trump, similar efforts against other Republicans have not succeeded.

A spokesperson for the Trump campaign had previously referred to the potential use of the 14th Amendment as "blatant election interference."

Kaine, a former vice presidential nominee, revealed that his congressional colleagues had considered using the 14th Amendment to remove Trump from office instead of pursuing a second impeachment in the aftermath of January 6th. He believed at the time that it might have been a "more productive way to go."

Nonetheless, Kaine cautioned against relying solely on this legal maneuver, stating, "My sense is it's probably going to get resolved in the courts, but, you know, I think what we have to focus on in our side is we just got to win in 2024."

He emphasized that the process begins by securing victories in legislative races within his home state in 2023, as this will serve as a significant signal for the upcoming elections next year.

Just last week, President Joe Biden instructed the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to allocate $1.2 million towards these races, a move that was confirmed by a spokesperson for the DNC. These funds will be directed towards bolstering campaign personnel and initiatives aimed at increasing voter turnout throughout the state, according to the DNC.

During his appearance on "This Week," Kaine didn't mince words when criticizing many of the potential Republican presidential candidates for the 2024 election, accusing them of lacking a moral compass due to their commitment to supporting Donald Trump even if he were to be convicted of a crime. Vivek Ramaswamy, one of these candidates, maintained in his own appearance on the show that the prosecutions of Trump were unjust.

"If you are unwilling to say that the behavior of Donald Trump trying to overturn the peaceful transfer of power is a disqualifier, if you pledge, despite that, to vote for him, if you pledge, despite that, to pardon him should you be elected --- it shows that you don't have the moral compass that you need to be the leader of the greatest nation in the world," Kaine said.

He questioned Kaine about why, despite facing legal challenges, Trump remains closely tied with Biden in recent polls. (Trump has pleaded not guilty in four cases.) Biden himself has struggled with low approval and favorability ratings, indicating voter dissatisfaction with both politicians.

Kaine attributed this to the "painful" experiences Americans have endured during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in over a million deaths, numerous job losses, and personal sacrifices. He suggested that there is still a collective trauma that needs to be processed.

However, Kaine also pointed to the achievements of the Biden administration in collaboration with Congress, such as infrastructure investment, advancements in clean energy, record job growth, and the resurgence of manufacturing in the United States. He expressed confidence in celebrating these accomplishments.

Kaine also emphasized that a stark contrast between Biden's legislative successes and the ongoing developments in Trump's legal trials will provide a favorable juxtaposition for Democrats.

When pressed by Stephanopoulos about whether the close race between Biden and Trump reflects concerns about Biden's age, health, or policies, Kaine placed the blame on inadequate messaging.

Kaine stated, "As Democrats, we need to do something we don't do very well, which is to effectively communicate: Highlight our accomplishments, showcase the infrastructure projects, emphasize job growth in manufacturing. If we do that, I believe Joe Biden will secure re-election."