The Trump campaign called a lawsuit seeking to ban the former president from the ballot in Colorado a political attack based on an “absurd conspiracy theory.”

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW) in Washington filed a lawsuit on Wednesday accusing Trump of violating Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars from running for office anyone who had previously taken an oath of office, then “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” The lawsuit says Trump “incited, exacerbated, and otherwise engaged in a violent insurrection at the United States Capitol” on January 6, 2021.

“If the very fabric of our democracy is to hold, we must ensure that the Constitution is enforced and the same people who attacked our democratic system not be put in charge of it,” CREW President Noah Bookbinder said in a statement. “We aren’t bringing this case to make a point, we’re bringing it because it is necessary to defend our republic both today and in the future.”

“While it is unprecedented to bring this type of case against a former president, January 6th was an unprecedented attack that is exactly the kind of event the framers of the 14th Amendment wanted to build protections in case of. You don’t break the glass unless there’s an emergency,” he added.

The Trump campaign has called the lawsuit’s premise an “absurd conspiracy theory” that reflects a desire among Trump’s political opponents to take the former president out of the 2024 race.

“The people who are pursuing this absurd conspiracy theory and political attack on President Trump are stretching the law beyond recognition,” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told ABC News in a statement. “There is no legal basis for this effort except in the minds of those who are pushing it.”

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The lawsuit is being brought by CREW and a group of Republican and independent Colorado voters. The group is being represented by the law firms Tierney Lawrence Stiles LLC, KBN Law LLC, and Olson Grimsley Kawanabe Hinchcliff & Murray LLC.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre waved off criticisms of President Joe Biden’s behavior at a Tuesday afternoon Medal of Honor ceremony recognizing Vietnam veteran Captain Larry Taylor, insisting that his abrupt exit from the event was “as planned.”

Biden, who has been wearing a mask and observing “social distancing” protocols since it was revealed that first lady Jill Biden has once again tested positive for COVID, first raised eyebrows when he had his face covering removed in close proximity to Taylor, 81.

WATCH:

That time Covidian propagandists were all praising Biden for going back to wearing his mask again but then two minutes later he took it off and walked through a crowd of people without it anyway. pic.twitter.com/C7xQl9ShK6

— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) September 6, 2023

Biden inspired further confusion when — with no announcement, explanation, or fanfare — he walked through the crowd (still sans mask) and out the door, baffling guests and photographers along the way. The ceremony concluded with the benediction prayer several moments after Biden left.

WATCH:

Joe Biden just BOLTED out of the room immediately after awarding the Medal of Honor to Army Captain Larry Taylor.

The ceremony continued on for several minutes afterwards.

Biden completely missed a concluding prayer. pic.twitter.com/BjSdeHcLPD

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 5, 2023

Critics wondered what was happening, calling out the president’s odd departure via X.

“He wasn’t supposed to leave yet. In East Room ceremonies they always ask people to remain in their seats while the president exits when the ceremony is finished. More mental confusion,” the American Enterprise Institute’s Marc Thiessen posted.

“He also starts to leave before saluting, only stops when he sees the salute, then jets. Man …” conservative pundit Stephen Miller added.

But Jean-Pierre insisted that Biden’s exit, though unannounced, was part of a plan to ensure he did not risk exposing other attendees to COVID.

WATCH:

Karine Jean-Pierre says that Joe Biden's mysterious and abrupt exit from the Medal of Honor ceremony yesterday was "as planned." pic.twitter.com/cNmdgAFhb1

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 6, 2023

“The president took off his mask, as I said he would, to deliver some incredibly powerful remarks about this captain, Captain Taylor and what he did in service to our nation,” Jean-Pierre said at Wednesday’s press briefing. “For a brief time afterwards, he also did not have his mask on.”

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Jean-Pierre went on to address Biden’s exit, saying it was “as planned” and had been intended to minimize any possible COVID exposure to the others in attendance.

She doubled down on the issue a short time later.

WATCH:

Karine Jean-Pierre doubles down on Biden's strange exit from the Medal of Honor ceremony yesterday:

"That was done on purpose. That was done very purposefully." pic.twitter.com/HBBtW2BkZS

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 6, 2023

“That was done on purpose, that was done very purposefully so that, again, he wasn’t there for too long,” Jean-Pierre said, adding that Biden had spent some time with Captain Taylor and his family — with everyone wearing masks — in addition to his brief appearance at the ceremony.