Former United States President Donald Trump appeals Maine's decision to remove his name from the state's 2024 ballot over alleged insurrection.
The Republican businessman's legal move came Tuesday after Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows barred him from the ballot. That decision was made over the former president's role in the Capitol Hill siege on Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump Appeals Maine's Ballot Disqualification Ruling
In a similar case in Colorado, Trump was expected to ask the country's Supreme Court to rule on his eligibility to return to the presidency. That state's high court was the first to rule that the Republican was ineligible to hold public office due to his actions.
The latest development where Trump appeals to the Maine Supreme Court involves the former president declaring that Bellows had no jurisdiction. He is also asking the secretary of state to be required to place the former president's name on the Mar. 5 primary ballot, as per the Associated Press.
The former president's appeal argues that the Maine secretary of state abused her discretion and decided by relying on "untrustworthy evidence." In the appeal, Trump's attorneys argued that Bellows ought to have recused herself due to her prejudice against the Republican businessman, which they claimed was evident from a record of prior statements.
In a statement, Bellows reiterated on Tuesday that her ruling on Trump's eligibility for the 2024 ballot in her state was on pause pending the outcome of the appeal. She said it is part of the process, adding that she has confidence in her decision and the rule of law.
On that same day, Trump was also expected to appeal a similar ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court directly to the nation's highest court. The latter has never decided on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Colorado's ruling that it applied to the former president was the first time in history that the provision was used to bar a presidential candidate from the ballot.
Former President's Role in Capitol Insurrection
Trump's campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, said Bellows went outside her authority with her ruling. He argued that the Maine secretary of state completely ignored the Constitution when she "summarily decided to remove President Trump's name from the ballot," according to The Hill.
Colorado and Maine have been the only states to take the extraordinary step of removing Trump's name from the 2024 ballot. However, plaintiffs in other states have filed more than two dozen challenges under the 14th Amendment to the former president's candidacy nationwide.
The Supreme Court would ultimately have the final say in the matter and determine whether or not states will be able to remove the former president's name from their ballots. Following Bellows' decision, Trump called her a "biased decision maker."
In his appeal, the former president said that he had met all requirements that the Maine Legislature set forth by submitting his petition and consent as required by the statute. He argued that he is entitled to have his name placed on the Republican primary ballot in the state, said CNN.
