Former US President Donald Trump has filed an appeal on Tuesday against a decision by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, to keep him off the presidential primary ballot in the state. This decision follows a similar move by Colorado, where Trump was barred from the primary ballot due to his involvement in the January 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol by his supporters.
Trump’s attorneys have urged the Maine Superior Court to overturn Bellows’ ruling, accusing her of being a “biased decisionmaker” who acted in an “arbitrary and capricious manner.” The Colorado Supreme Court had previously ruled that Trump was ineligible to appear on the primary ballot in that state, citing the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.
The 14th Amendment’s Section Three prohibits individuals from holding public office if they engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” after pledging to support and defend the Constitution. This constitutional provision, ratified in 1868 after the Civil War, aimed to prevent former Confederacy supporters from holding federal positions.
Trump’s Legal Battles with Bellows
In her decision, Bellows stated that the January 6 attack “occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President.” She emphasized that the US Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the government’s foundations and Maine law requires her to act in response.
The Republican Party in Colorado has already appealed the state Supreme Court ruling to the US Supreme Court. Similarly, it is expected that the Maine case will also reach the nation’s highest court. Other states have faced similar 14th Amendment challenges to Trump’s eligibility, with Minnesota and Michigan courts ruling in favor of Trump’s inclusion on their respective primary ballots.
Notably, Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is scheduled to go on trial in Washington in March for conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results. He also faces racketeering charges in Georgia related to alleged efforts to disrupt the election results in that state.
Maine and Colorado are scheduled to hold their presidential nominating contests on March 5, known as “Super Tuesday,” alongside more than a dozen other states, including major ones like California and Texas. These legal battles add further complexity to Trump’s political future and the upcoming Republican primary season.
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