Former President Donald Trump filed an appeal on Tuesday contesting the decision that removed him from Maine’s Republican primary ballot due to allegations regarding his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The appeal challenges the ruling made by Democrat Shenna Bellows, who, as the first secretary of state in history, utilized the rarely invoked Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify Trump. This section bars individuals who have “engaged in insurrection” from holding office.
The appeal is set to be reviewed by Maine’s Supreme Court. Bellows issued the decision after facing challenges from state residents, including a bipartisan group of former lawmakers, regarding Trump’s candidacy.
Trump’s legal team requested Bellows’ disqualification, citing tweets they deemed biased. In these tweets, Bellows referred to the U.S. Capitol attack as an “insurrection” and expressed disappointment that Trump was not convicted by the U.S. Senate after being impeached by the U.S. House.
The Maine Republican Party, working tirelessly to counter Bellows’s decision and reinstate Trump on the ballot, expressed satisfaction with the appeal.
Maine GOP Chairman Joel Stetkis affirmed their commitment to contesting Bellows’s unilateral decision through various avenues and expressed readiness for the Supreme Court proceedings, emphasizing the importance of hearing the voice of Maine residents despite perceived partisan tactics.
