By Jan Wolfe

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A group of Georgia voters will challenge Republican U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene in a Georgia court. They cite a post-Civil War strategy that aims to keep insurrectionists out of office.

In a unique legal challenge, Georgia’s secretary of state filed a complaint claiming that Greene, who was an American supporter of President Donald Trump, had violated a U.S. Constitution provision known as “Insurrectionist Diqualification Clause.”

This clause was passed in response to the U.S. Civil War of the 1860s. It prohibits politicians running for Congress if the have “insurrection, rebellion”, or given aid or comfort to enemies.

Greene seeks reelection in this year’s Republican primary, which is scheduled for May 24, and the general election that takes place on Nov. 8.

Greene, during media interviews, has downplayed the attack on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021 by Trump supporters, in their unsuccessful bid to stop congressional certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. Greene said this month that Democrats and journalists had attempted an “overdramatization” of the day’s events.

Free Speech for People, which advocates for reform in campaign finance reform, is spearheading the voter challenge. Similar challenges against Madison Cawthorn (Republican U.S. Rep.) were rejected by the same group. A North Carolina Federal Judge dismissed this suit on March 4.

Free Speech for People stated that this hearing was more than Marjorie Taylor Greene. “This hearing will ensure that elected officials who take an oath protecting our Constitution but then incite to insurrection are barred from being able to hold office again.”

Greene denied this assertion Wednesday on Newsmax, the conservative TV station.

Greene said, “I can’t believe that the judge hasn’t thrown this matter out and seen it as what it really is: nothing more than a huge, funded scam for Democrats trying to take control of our elections.”

Charles Beaudrot (an Atlanta administrative judge) will begin the hearing at 9:00 a.m. ET (1330 GMT). The outcome of Friday’s case is not known.

Greene is scheduled to give evidence under oath at Friday’s hearing. She will argue that her removal from the ballot would not be fair to both her and voters in her conservative-leaning constituency. Greene, who is likely to appeal against the ruling she makes in her favor, has filed parallel legal proceedings at U.S. federal courts seeking to end the administrative proceeding.

Greene’s legal team stated that Greene “vigorously denials” having participated in the insurrection in order to block peaceful presidential transfer.

U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg ruled Monday that Greene can challenge Greene’s fitness to serve in office. Greene asked for a Federal Appeals Court to overturn that decision and end the matter.

Absentee ballots start to arrive in the mail on April 25,