By Jan Wolfe

WASHINGTON (Reuters] -Republican U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was asked by a group of Georgian voters to be stopped from seeking reelection. She claimed she is not qualified for the office after her support of rioters attacking the U.S. Capitol.

A legal challenge was filed against the Georgia Secretary Of State by the voters claiming that Greene had violated an American Constitution provision known as “Insurrectionist Diqualification Clause.”

After the Civil War of the 19th Century, the clause prohibits Congressmen from seeking to run if they are involved in any “insurrection” or rebellion against the United States.

Free Speech For People is the Georgia advocacy group. It was founded in Texas and has brought similar challenges to Republican Madison Cawthorn’s eligibility for the office.

Cawthorn was dismissed by a federal court on March 4. However, Free Speech for People asked North Carolina officials for an appeal and made its emergency appeal.

Greene’s spokesperson didn’t immediately reply to my request for comment.

Greene justifies and downplays the attack on Jan. 6, 2021 by Donald Trump supporters. After a fiery speech delivered near the White House, Trump repeated his lies that his election loss was due to widespread fraud.

Greene stated that Jan. 6 was a riot at Capitol, and that if you look at what our Declaration of Independence states, it is to overthrow the tyrants.” Greene made this statement during an October radio show.

A judge of administrative law will decide the case. Greene can also petition a federal court to stop the challenge.

According to the suit, Greene “voluntarily participated and aided in an insurrection that obstructs the peaceful transfer presidential power” after taking the Oath to Protect and Defend the Constitution.

Some legal experts have expressed skepticism of Free Speech for People’s arguments.

Derek Muller is a University of Iowa law professor who said that it was against the Constitution for Georgia’s election officials to remove Greene from the ballot. The Constitution does not give states the power to assess a congressional candidate’s eligibility for office, reserving that power for Congress, he said.

“Georgia has no jurisdiction to assess a congressional candidate’s eligibility today,” Muller said in an email. “Even though Ms. Greene is an insurrectionist,” Muller said via email. Congress can lift the bar at any point before Greene presents her credentials to Congress next spring if necessary.