Ex-Defense Official Testifies Against Trump’s Colorado Ballot Presence
Former Defense Official Testifies in 14th Amendment Case to Keep Trump off Colorado Ballot
On November 1, Kashyap (Kash) Patel, a former Department of Defense official, provided testimony in the ongoing 14th Amendment case aimed at excluding former President Donald Trump from the Colorado ballot. Patel asserted that the administration had offered National Guard and other resources to Capitol and Washington, D.C., police prior to the chaos on January 6, 2021.
The testimony took place during the third day of hearings on the case, where plaintiffs argue that the 14th Amendment’s “insurrection” clause can be used to prevent Trump from appearing on the ballot. Patel, a contributor to The Epoch Times, testified for the defense, sharing his understanding of the events surrounding January 6 when he served as the chief of staff to the acting secretary of defense.
According to Patel, the authorization to use the National Guard on January 6 came directly from President Trump and was given to the Department of Defense. However, he emphasized that additional local authorizations from the capital police and the mayor of Washington, D.C., were necessary to proceed.
“Without those requests, we were advised by our legal counsel’s offices that activating the National Guard would not be possible. We did everything within the legal limits to prepare and respond,” Patel explained.
Patel’s testimony countered the plaintiffs’ claim that Trump failed to take sufficient action to prevent or stop the violence on January 6. He argued that Trump was just one part of the equation and that Capitol Hill and Washington, D.C., officials needed to accept the assistance offered.
“While we would have preferred a faster response, considering the circumstances on the ground, the timeline in which we acted was quite remarkable,” Patel stated.
During cross-examination, Jason Murray, the attorney for the plaintiffs, questioned Patel on various issues, including his financial ties to President Trump through the Save America PAC, for which Patel serves as an advisor, and his personal opinions on authority.
Murray specifically challenged Patel’s views on liberal leadership, referencing a book Patel had written about the “deep state” and asking, “Do you believe that all liberals or liberal leadership are evil?”
Patel vehemently denied the accusation, calling it “outrageous” and highlighting his extensive work in other areas of government, including more service under a Democrat administration at the Department of Justice than under a Republican one. He stated, “If you want to make that assumption because the cameras are on, you can go right ahead, but I don’t believe that.”
In a video posted on Truth Social, President Trump expressed his thoughts on the case, stating, “A fake trial is currently taking place to try and illegally remove my name from the ballot.
“I often say that 2024 will be the most important election in the history of our country. The reason for that, and that statement, is that our country is being destroyed by people who have no idea what they’re doing; or even worse, they may very well have an idea. They may hate our country and they may want to see it destroyed,” he said in a measured tone.
He added, “The 2024 election may also be the last election we ever have. If this election doesn’t work, if this election is rigged and stolen, if bad things happen, our country will not survive.
“If crooked Joe and the Democrats get away with removing my name from the ballot, then there will never be a free election in America again,” President Trump warned. “We will have become a dictatorship where your president is chosen for you. You will no longer have a vote, or certainly won’t have a meaningful vote.”
President Trump concluded his remarks by saying, “We must win in 2024. If we don’t win, we will not have a country. If we do win, we will make America greater than it’s ever been before.”
How does Patel’s testimony support the defense’s claim that responsibility for the security breach on January 6 lies with both Trump and local authorities
Advisor. Patel acknowledged his involvement with the PAC but maintained that it did not influence his testimony or his understanding of the events on January 6.
The 14th Amendment case stems from the events of January 6, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The plaintiffs argue that Trump’s role in inciting the insurrection disqualifies him from appearing on the Colorado ballot based on the “insurrection” clause of the 14th Amendment, which states that no person who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States shall hold any office.
Throughout the hearings, the defense has sought to show that Trump took appropriate actions to respond to the events on January 6 and that the responsibility for the security breach lies not solely with him, but also with local authorities. Patel’s testimony supports this argument by emphasizing the need for local authorizations to activate the National Guard.
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