Former President Donald Trump has lodged an appeal against the decision of Maine’s Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, to exclude him from the 2024 presidential election ballot. As the current frontrunner for the Republican nomination, Trump challenges the removal, contending that Bellows, a Democrat, is a “biased decision maker” and lacks the legal authority for such an action. This move follows a similar exclusion from the ballot in Colorado.
The basis for Trump’s removal from the ballots in Maine and Colorado stems from challenges citing the US Constitution’s insurrection clause, referring to his alleged involvement in inciting the 2021 US Capitol riot. The 14th Amendment prohibits individuals who have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from holding federal office.
In the court filing related to the Maine decision, Trump’s attorneys argue that the Secretary’s actions would illegally bar him from the ballot, emphasizing Bellows’ alleged bias. The legal challenges in Maine and Colorado are expected to be taken up by the US Supreme Court, and any ruling would have nationwide implications.
Shenna Bellows, who assumed office as Maine’s Secretary of State in December 2020, defended her decision, expressing the hope that the matter would be resolved by the Supreme Court. She emphasized that her ruling was based on a thorough analysis of the rule of law and was not politically motivated.
Trump and his campaign have consistently criticized the decisions in Maine and Colorado, branding them as politically motivated attempts to undermine his prospects in the 2024 election. Apart from these election eligibility disputes, Trump is also facing legal proceedings at both federal and state levels, including trials in Georgia and federal court, related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Notably, he has not been charged with inciting insurrection in these cases.
In a separate development, a federal judge in Washington DC ruled that a portion of a lawsuit against Trump, arising from the death of a Capitol Police officer during the January 6 riot, can proceed. Sandra Garza, the wife of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, filed the lawsuit against Trump and two riot participants over Sicknick’s death.