The Story:
Madison Cawthorn (R – N.C.), one of the deepest-dyed Trump loyalists in the House of Representatives, faces a challenge to his eligibility for another term in that institution. Section 3 of the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, enacted in 1866 with wording designed to keep the founders and warriors of the just-defeated Confederacy out of public office, says: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or … hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States …Â to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”
Background:
Cawthorn took an oath when he was sworn in as a member of the House on January 3, 2021. Three days later a mob assaulted Capitol Hill, interrupting the official count of the electoral votes, over which then Vice President Mike Pence was presiding.
The Thing to Know:
Since this was the disruption of a constitutionally mandated proceeding, the riot has often been called an “insurrection.” Did Cawthorn give “aid and comfort” to the insurrectionists in such a way as to bring down upon himself the above quoted disqualification? That is the question.
