Trump 'inner circle' member abruptly cancels testimony in Colorado ballot challenge case

Someone in Donald Trump’s “inner circle” abruptly canceled testimony Monday in the Colorado case seeking to strike the former president from the 2024 presidential ballot, according to a journalist monitoring the trial.

The inner circle member is one of two Trump administration officials whose testimony was nixed Monday in the case challenging Trump's presidential bid in the state, Roger Parloff, senior editor at Lawfare, said on X.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, the watchdog organization that brought the case to court, argue Trump’s role in the Jan. 6 insurrection violates the 14th Amendment and disqualifies him as a presidential candidate.

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Trump faces two criminal cases in Washington D.C. and Georgia linked to the Capitol attack and build-up efforts to reinstate himself as president. He had pleaded not guilty in both.

Trump’s lawyers filed a motion last week to block testimony of an “inner circle” witness who regularly met with the president, West Wing and campaign staff, court records show.

The witness was slated to testify about Trump's "ability to influence his supporters' conduct; his acknowledgment and appreciation of violent elements among his supporters (including groups that attacked the Capitol); his knowledge of the prevalence of weapons at his rallies...and his communication capabilities."

The plaintiff's attorney Eric Olson argued Trump's relationship with those supporters violated the 14th Amendment on Jan. 6, 2021.

“Trump incited a violent mob to attack our Capitol, to stop the peaceful transfer of power under our Constitution.

“We are here because Trump claims, after all that, he has the right to be president again.”

Trump supporter Laura Loomer called the case, “a blatant attempt to overturn the 2024 presidential election.”

This is not the only ballot challenge the lead GOP candidate faces.