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Trump Appeals Maine 14th Amendment Ballot Ban

ormer President Donald Trump has recently escalated his legal battle regarding the 14th Amendment by challenging a decision that removed him from Maine’s primary ballot. This move to the state court marks a significant step in a critical legal case.

Last week, Maine’s Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, ruled Trump ineligible for the ballot under the 14th Amendment’s clause against insurrection, making Maine the second state to take this action. The appeal to the Kennebec County Superior Court initiates a swift legal process, as per Maine’s laws, to resolve this issue promptly.

There’s a possibility that this dispute might eventually be deliberated by the U.S. Supreme Court. This follows a similar situation where Trump was disqualified from the Colorado primary ballot in another 14th Amendment case. In Maine, the judge must deliver a verdict within 20 days of Bellows’s decision, which was given on December 28. Until the decision, Trump remains on Maine’s ballot. The state’s primary is scheduled for Super Tuesday, March 5.

Should the initial ruling be contested, the case could advance to Maine’s supreme court, where a decision is expected within two weeks. The dispute could even reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, criticized Maine’s Secretary of State, claiming she overstepped her boundaries and disregarded the Constitution by attempting to disenfranchise voters in Maine. He argued that Trump’s removal from the ballot was an effort to unfairly influence the election.

So far, only Maine and Colorado have taken the unprecedented step of removing Trump’s name from their ballots. However, there have been over two dozen challenges filed nationwide under the 14th Amendment against Trump’s candidacy. These challenges hinge on Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, with plaintiffs arguing that he incited the riot, thereby disqualifying him from future presidential eligibility.

Bellows, in her decision, noted the unprecedented nature of the situation, both in terms of a Secretary of State’s actions and a presidential candidate’s alleged involvement in an insurrection.

Trump’s legal team counters that Bellows had no jurisdiction to remove Trump’s name under state law. They argue that the 14th Amendment clause doesn’t apply to the presidency and would require Congressional legislation to be enforceable. They also contend that Trump did not engage in insurrection.

The conflict has sparked heated rhetoric from Trump and his campaign, with accusations of partisanship and abuse of power directed at Bellows. Cheung stated that Trump is determined to combat these perceived attacks on American democracy and is looking forward to winning in both the state courts and the November presidential election.

Although Trump hasn’t yet appealed the Colorado decision, it is expected soon. The Colorado Republican Party has already filed an appeal separately.