Donald Trump Called Out for Being Hypocrite by Ex-Lawyer

Former President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer, Jenna Ellis, accused him of hypocrisy over his response to being removed from Colorado's primary ballot in the 2024 presidential election.

The Colorado Supreme Court's 4-3 ruling determined that Trump, the frontrunner in the 2024 GOP primary, is ineligible to appear on the state's ballot over his alleged role in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Critics allege that his speech to his supporters that morning culminated in the violent protest in which his supporters illegally entered the Capitol building in an attempt to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.

The court ruled Tuesday that his actions violated Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, barring any individual from holding federal or state office who has "engaged in insurrection."

Trump slammed the court's decision, sharing several Truth Social posts alleging "election interference." His campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, vowed to file an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, accusing the Colorado court of "eliminating the rights of Colorado voters to vote for the candidate of their choice."

Ellis, who represented Trump following the 2020 election and repeated his unfounded election fraud theories, wrote that the former president's response constitutes hypocrisy in a post to X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday night.

"I find it terribly hypocritical how Trump is mad at being excluded from the ballot, yelling about election interference when he has been trying his hardest to have the RNC cancel debates and even the primary," Ellis wrote.

Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign and Ellis for comment via email.

Trump's campaign in October called for the Republican National Committee (RNC) to cancel primary debates "to refocus its manpower and money on preventing Democrats' efforts to steal the 2024 election." Trump declined to participate in debates against his Republican rivals, pointing to his substantial polling lead.

Ellis also voiced criticisms against the ruling in a series of X posts, describing it as a "heinous decision."

"Wow. This is an alarmingly wrong decision. I hope the U.S. Supreme Court intervenes and settles the matter. I do not support Trump for re-election, but this is a misapplication of the 14th Amendment, which has consequences for the country," she wrote.

In October, Ellis pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false statements and writings in connection with the indictment brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis against Trump and 18 others.

Willis investigated the Trump campaign's alleged efforts to thwart the 2020 election results in Georgia, including by allegedly asking Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" enough votes to flip the state's election in his favor and planning to send a false slate of pro-Trump electors to the Electoral College.

The Colorado Supreme Court's ruling only applies to the March 5 primary but could eventually affect his ability to run on the general election ballot. Colorado is viewed as a safe Democratic state, making it unlikely Trump would win regardless, but he does face ballot changes in more competitive states, including Michigan.