Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) attorney on Friday argued that her initiatives to deny President Biden’s 2020 electoral victory competent as “legitimate political speech” and slammed a authorized problem to clear away her from the Georgia primary ballot as a plain attempt to deny thousands of her constituents the right to vote.

The opening assertion from legal professional James Bopp came through a hearing to identify whether Greene is suitable to provide in community business. A team of Georgia voters are difficult her candidacy, arguing that her alleged position in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol correctly disqualifies her from managing for or serving in Congress.

In his opening argument, Bopp argued that Greene’s attempts to deny Biden’s victory — together with her calls for a response to Congress’s certification of the election success — are shielded less than the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Structure. 

Though he mentioned that the Jan. 6 riot was “despicable,” he argued that Greene really should not be held dependable for the steps of all those who perpetrated the attack.

Bopp also argued that if Greene is finally disqualified from the ballot, it would deny inhabitants of her district the proper to solid their ballots for the prospect of their option.

“The proper to vote is at stake, correct listed here proper now, for the reason that they want to deny the right to vote to countless numbers of individuals in the 14th District of Ga by possessing Greene taken off from the ballot,” he stated, later introducing: “Our democracy is at stake. It need to be the voters … who come to a decision our options.”

The team of voters difficult Greene’s candidacy argue that a provision of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment acknowledged as the disqualification clause correctly prohibits Greene from keeping federal business due to the fact of her alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol. 

That clause, which was handed in the wake of the Civil War, bans any human being from keeping federal business who has earlier taken an oath to defend and defend the Constitution and who has “engaged in insurrection” towards the United States.

In an opening assertion, Ron Fein, who’s symbolizing the team of voters, argued that when Greene may perhaps have not actively participated in the Jan. 6 riot herself, she nevertheless performed a essential role in inciting the assault.

“She was not on the Capitol steps urging the attackers to breach police strains and smash by means of the doors on Jan. 6. … Different figures in this greater hard work experienced distinct roles,” Fein stated. “Marjorie Taylor Greene, however, played an vital purpose.”