Maine has joined Colorado in banning former United States President Donald Trump from the state ballot over the Republican businessman's role in the Capitol Hill riot.
The state's top election official made the decision on Thursday, which would most likely be appealed along with the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said that the "insurrectionist ban" in the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution applies to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Maine Disqualifies Donald Trump From Ballot
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The evidence against Trump demonstrates that the 2021 attack "occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President." In her decision, Bellows added that the U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government.
On the other hand, the Trump campaign denies that Jan. 6 was an insurrection, condemned the Maine decision, and said that Bellows is a "leftist" who decided to interfere in the presidential election, as per USA Today.
A statement from Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said that they are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter. He noted that courts in other states have rejected efforts to disqualify Trump. He said the campaign would file a "legal objection" to Maine's state court system ruling.
The Supreme Court is expected to have the final say on whether or not Trump is eligible for state ballots sometime next year. Bellows presided over an administrative hearing earlier this month on a challenge to the former president that a bipartisan group of Maine lawmakers brought.
Before Bellows decided on the matter, Trump's attorneys asked her to recuse herself because of previous tweets that showed political bias. The former president has said he plans to appeal the Colorado Supreme Court ruling.
Read Also : Colorado Republicans Urge Supreme Court To Hear Donald Trump's Ballot Disqualification Case
Appealing the Decision
According to CNN, Bellows' decision marks a major victory for Trump's critics, who said they are trying to enforce a constitutional provision to protect the nation from anti-democratic insurrectionists.
The Maine secretary of state said she did not conclude lightly, adding that Democracy is sacred. She noted that she is mindful that no other person in her position has previously deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
The decision underscores the ongoing tensions in the United States over Democracy, ballot access, and the rule of law. It also adds urgency to calls for the US Supreme Court to intervene in the politically explosive dispute over Trump's eligibility.
On the other hand, two other states, Minnesota and Michigan, ruled that election officials cannot prevent the former president from being included in their ballots.
The latter's Supreme Court concluded on Wednesday that an appeals court had properly decided that political parties are allowed to determine which candidates are eligible to run for the country's highest position, said the New York Times.
