Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows appeals ruling delaying Trump removal from ballot
After the Colorado Supreme Court voted to remove Donald Trump from the state's presidential ballot based on Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows made a similar decision. Bellows agreed with the Colorado ruling, deciding to remove Trump from the Maine ballot.
But in Maine on January 17, Superior Court Judge Michaela Murphy ruled that Bellows should wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on the Colorado case before proceeding. And Bellows, according to the Associated Press, has filed an appeal.
Section 3 — also known as the "insurrection clause" — states that an "officer" who has engaged in "insurrection or rebellion" against the United States, or has give "aid or comfort to the enemies thereof," is disqualified from holding any federal "civilian or military" position, and from being elected to any state legislature.
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The AP's David Sharp reports that Bellows "said she welcomes guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court but also wanted an expedited review from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court."
In a statement on Friday, January 19, Bellows explained, "I know both the constitutional and state authority questions are of grave concern to many. This appeal ensures that Maine's highest court has the opportunity to weigh in now, before ballots are counted, promoting trust in our free, safe and secure elections."
The Supreme Court is due to hear oral arguments on the Colorado disqualification in early February. In the meantime, a stay has been issued on the Colorado decision, meaning Trump's name will still appear on the state's primary ballot unless the Supreme Court decides otherwise. The former president has warned of "chaos and bedlam" if the Court upholds the Colorado ruling.
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Read the Associated Press' full report at this link.
