(FixThisNation.com) – On Wednesday, the political atmosphere stirred as former President Trump requested Maine’s Secretary of State to step down from her role in determining his eligibility for the ballot. This request is based on the 14th Amendment and her previous remarks about the events of January 6th at the Capitol.
Maine, distinct from other states, allows the Secretary of State to initially assess a candidate’s eligibility, with the option for challengers to later appeal in state court. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, affiliated with the Democratic Party, is poised to make a decision soon, following three petitions challenging Trump’s eligibility.
Trump’s legal team has formally approached Bellows, urging her to recuse herself. They argue that her prior tweets, particularly those labeling the January 6th event as an insurrection, indicate a prejudgment that aligns with the challengers’ claims. These challengers allege that the events of January 6, 2021, were a violent uprising and position Trump as a threat to Maine voters. According to the 14th Amendment, anyone involved in an insurrection after vowing to uphold the Constitution is barred from holding any office in the United States.
Bellows has chosen not to comment on the issue while it is still unresolved. The request from Trump’s lawyers references Bellows’s social media activity, particularly her comments during Trump’s second impeachment trial and on the first anniversary of January 6th. In one tweet, Bellows condemned the insurrection and mentioned that although Trump was acquitted, a majority of senators, including Senators King and Collins, found him guilty.
This controversy in Maine is part of a wider national trend where Trump’s eligibility for ballots is being challenged in various states. While Michigan’s highest court recently dismissed a 14th Amendment challenge against Trump, Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled him ineligible for their state’s primary ballot, a decision that might soon reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Copyright 2023, FixThisNation.com
