BREAKING: Trump BACK On Maine Ballot After Issuing Appeal
Former President Donald J. Trump has been provisionally reinstated on the Maine Republican Party’s state presidential primary ballot. This follows the appeal against his earlier disqualification by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who had removed him from the ballot citing his alleged ineligibility under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
A critical aspect of the legal battle is the timeline set by the Kennebec Superior Court, which has until January 17 to make a ruling on the matter. Until the court issues its decision, Trump will remain on the Maine ballot, despite the Secretary of State’s initial ruling.
The same case of disqualification from Colorado has been taken to the Supreme Court for appeal as well.
“The Secretary made multiple errors of law and acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner … and President Trump will be illegally excluded from the ballot as a result of the Secretary’s actions,” attorneys for Trump wrote.
The appeal filed in the State of Maine Superior Court, contests the disqualification on several grounds. The Trump legal team argued against the bias and lack of due process in Bellows’ decision, challenging her legal authority under Maine statutes to consider federal constitutional issues.
They also highlighted multiple errors of law and arbitrary actions in her decision-making process, asserting that Trump’s exclusion from the ballot was unlawful.
“Relief is sought on the grounds that the Secretary’s Ruling was the product of a process infected by bias and pervasive lack of due process; is arbitrary, capricious, and characterized by abuse of discretion; affected by error of law; ultra vires; and unsupported by substantial evidence on the record,” the suit claimed.
“The Secretary should have recused herself due to her bias against President Trump, as demonstrated by a documented history of prior statements prejudging the issue presented.” The interim ruling is particularly significant for the 2024 presidential race.
On December 28, Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ruled that Trump was ineligible to appear on the state’s 2024 Republican primary ballot. Bellows wrote, “Mr. Trump’s primary petition is invalid…he is not qualified to hold the office of the President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment.”
“I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment,” Bellows said in her ruling.
BREAKING: Maine has ruled that Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the primary ballot in 2024.
The communists are out in full force.
Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ruled that Trump could not be on the primary ballot under the 14th Amendment.
The decision is… pic.twitter.com/dbqeSbiu2B
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 29, 2023
“The events of January 6, 2021 were unprecedented and tragic,” Bellows continued. “They were an attack not only upon the Capitol and government officials, but also an attack on the rule of law. The evidence here demonstrates that they occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President. The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government.”
The ruling also highlighted the Secretary of State’s authority in such matters, stating, “The States have evolved comprehensive election codes regulating the selection and qualification of candidates.” This has shown the state’s role in managing its own elections and the authority to enforce constitutional qualifications.
The state of Maine joined Colorado as the only two states two bar the former President from the 2024 Presidential ballot.
