Image: Donald Trump on 6/22/24 in PHILADELPHIA, PA Image Credit: @realDonaldTrump / TruthSocial
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s Office has declined to issue an opinion regarding a state lawmaker’s letter asking if former President Donald Trump can still be placed on the Tennessee ballot this fall in light of his recent felony conviction in a New York court.
In a March 31st letter, state Representative Vincent Dixie (D-Nashville-District 54) referenced Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-20-114.
“A person who has been convicted in this state of an infamous crime, as defined by § 40-20-112, other than one specified in subsection (b), or convicted under the laws of the United States or another state of an offense that would constitute an infamous crime if committed in this state, shall be disqualified from qualifying for, seeking election to or holding a public office in this state, unless and until that person’s citizenship rights have been restored by a court of competent jurisdiction,” reads the state law.
Rep. Dixie asked the attorney general if the alleged crimes committed by Trump were considered “infamous” due to the “severity and nature” of the alleged crimes and expressed that he personally believes the state law applies to present circumstances.
The democrat lawmaker came to this conclusion based on what the Attorney General’s Office deemed to be “an incorrect premise” in its response letter.
This “incorrect premise” is that TCA § 40-20-114, as displayed above, includes the office of the U.S. president despite the fact that it is not a Tennessee public office.
Attorney General Skrmetti’s response letter stated that after careful consideration, his office could not opine on a state law concerning election eligibility.
“The Attorney General’s statutory authority is limited to providing ‘written legal opinions’ on matters submitted by officials ‘in the discharge of their official duties,’” the response read, “and Tennessee’s election officials [i.e. the secretary of state] – not individual members of the General Assembly – enforce (the state law) in specific factual scenarios.”
Following this response, Rep. Dixie stated that he was “disappointed” but “not surprised.”
“This just highlights the broken criminal justice system in this country,” said Rep. Dixie. “There is no rational explanation for a way that a person can possibly be elected POTUS by this state, and if that same person lived in Tennessee, they wouldn’t even be able to cast a ballot and vote. How does that make sense?”
In the end, Rep. Dixie’s question may have been better addressed to Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office which recently stated that Trump is in fact, eligible to be on the ballot as the Republican Party’s nominee this fall.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
4 Responses
If they took him off, they’d see the biggest write-in ballot in Tn history.
Amen Ralph, you know it!
Of course a stupid Dem making false accusations. How sad the Repub that tried to run against him did not get vetted. ! 🙁
Rep. Dixie, like all of the other Democrat Politicians, seems to be following a Globalist anti – populist agenda. “Let the Billionaire bankers, financiers, and industrialists run things-let them shape the world the way they want to. Don’t let the majority of the people have any say”. I sure am glad that this is a Republican State.