Colorado Sec. Of State on CNN Just Clueless: ‘It Will Be Up to the American People to Save Our Democracy’

BLITZER: “Joining us now, the Colorado Secretary of State, Jena Griswold. Madam Secretary, thanks so much for joining us. The high court says states don‘t have the power to remove federal candidates from the ballot. What‘s your reaction to this historic decision today?”

Griswold: “Well, thank you for having me on. First and foremost, I‘m glad that they issued a decision. Colorado voters and American voters all across the country deserve to know whether Donald Trump is qualified or not as we go into Super Tuesday. But in terms of the bigger decision, I‘m disappointed. We believe that it‘s up to Colorado or any state to determine whether to disqualify oath-breaking insurrectionists from our ballots. Ultimately, the United States Supreme Court disagreed. Votes for Donald Trump will count and he is on our ballot.”

BLITZER: “The court didn’t address the sensitive issue, whether Trump is actually an insurrectionist. Are you disappointed by that and what worries you most about this decision?”

Griswold: “I wouldn’t say I was surprised they didn‘t address it, but it is the big elephant in the room. Only two courts have looked at the question of whether Trump engaged in insurrection, and they both determined that he did. And I think one of the concerns from this decision is that without congressional action, oath-breaking insurrectionists running for federal office will not be able to be stopped from appearing on ballots. Although Congress could act, it‘s highly unlikely with such Congress that we have that just doesn‘t function very well.”

BLITZER: “As you heard, Madam Secretary, even the three liberal justices agreed that Trump can‘t be removed from the ballot, given that, did the Colorado Supreme Court, from your perspective, go too far?”

Griswold: “I don’t think the Colorado Supreme Court went too far. I think there‘s different opinions, that‘s why we have a judicial system as to whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment is self-executing, whether states can apply that provision of the Constitution to protect our ballots from oath-breaking insurrectionists. And I also think that the big concern is still there. Donald Trump incited the insurrection. He incited that violent mob onto the Capitol to try to stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power. And he has not stopped his attacks on democracy since then.”

BLITZER: “So, it’s clear you disagree strongly with the Supreme Court decision as a legal matter. But, Madam Secretary, is it better for the country that if, if Trump goes ahead and loses the election, it‘s a result of the voters making their choice at the ballot box?”

Griswold: “As an elected official, as Colorado‘s Secretary of State, it‘s my job to uphold the law and the Constitution. If there is a provision in the Constitution that would bar someone like Trump from appearing on the ballot, it‘s my job to enforce that. And when there‘s big questions, well, it goes into litigation and we‘ve seen that play out exactly how it did. Trump is a qualified candidate. the United States Supreme Court has decided states do not have the authority to remove him. And ultimately, Wolf, it will be up to the American people to save our democracy in November at their voting centers.”

BLITZER: “Trust in the Supreme Court, according to various polls, is near record lows right now. Will today‘s decision lower the court’s standing with the public even more so? Do you have less faith yourself in the court?”

Griswold: “My opinion on the court does not immediately matter to this case in hand. I am disappointed. But as Secretary of State, I‘ll uphold the United States Supreme Court‘s decision. Donald Trump, I believe, is a danger to American democracy. We already see MAGA extremists trying to undermine confidence in 2024. Trump himself is facing 91 felony counts in four separate cases. The American people from the very beginning have all the power in the world to safeguard our country. I was never waiting on the Supreme Court to do that because that will will be the American voters’ job this fall.”

BLITZER: “We shall see what happens. The Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, thank you so much for joining us.”

Griswold: “Thank you.”