According to The Hill, former President Trump has called for the recusal of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows in determining his ballot eligibility under the 14th Amendment. In contrast to other states where legal challenges have been pursued, Maine allows the secretary of state to make an initial decision, with the option for challengers to appeal in state court.
Three petitions challenging Trump’s eligibility await a decision from Bellows, a Democrat, who has come under scrutiny for her past statements regarding the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump’s lawyers penned a letter to Bellows on Wednesday, urging her to disqualify herself due to three tweets she posted referencing the Capitol attack, characterizing it as an insurrection.
The 14th Amendment bars individuals from holding federal office if they “engaged in insurrection” after swearing an oath to support the Constitution. Trump’s lawyers argue that Bellows has already formed an opinion on the core assertions made by challengers by using language similar to theirs in her previous statements.
While Bellows’s spokesperson refrained from commenting on the matter during its pendency, Trump’s lawyers highlighted two specific social media posts. One was issued on the day Trump was acquitted in his second impeachment trial, where Bellows stated, “The Jan 6 insurrection was an unlawful attempt to overthrow the results of a free and fair election.” Another post, on the one-year anniversary of January 6, emphasized the importance of safeguarding elections.
Similar challenges to Trump’s ballot eligibility have arisen nationwide. On the same day, Michigan’s top court rejected a 14th Amendment challenge, echoing decisions in places like Minnesota. However, Colorado’s highest court declared Trump ineligible for the state’s primary ballot, marking the first such ruling and setting the stage for a potential U.S. Supreme Court review in the coming days.
