Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday appealed the decision by Maine Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to remove him from the state’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.
Trump, who has jumped ahead of President Joe Biden in recent polling in key states, argued that Bellows is a “biased decision maker” and should not be allowed to take such action. Bellows has said she has the authority to remove Trump, claiming he participated in an “insurrection” on January 6, 2021.
“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,” Trump’s lawyers said in an appeal to the Maine Superior Court.
Bellows reportedly visited the White House multiple times last year, where she posed for a picture with President Joe Biden. She has previously posted about the “fears of a Trump presidency” on social media. After the 2020 election, she wrote in a column that she was “frightened for our Democracy” and that the Electoral College is a “relic of White Supremacy.”
The appeal also said Bellows’ decision was based on “untrustworthy evidence.” Additionally, Trump’s lawyers said the former president was “denied due process by failing to give him adequate time and opportunity to present a defense.”
“As evidence of President Trump’s conduct, the Secretary relied entirely on President Trump’s public speeches. These speeches did not incite insurrection, and therefore President Trump’s political speech was protected by the First Amendment,” the appeal said.
The Maine Republican Party has said it would consider changing to a caucus system to select its Republican presidential nominee in a move that would bypass Bellows’ decision.
“We’re fighting Shenna Bellows’ unilateral decision to toss Trump from the Maine ballot on every front and we’re glad this has been appealed. We are preparing for the Supreme Court. The voice of Mainers will be heard despite the dirty partisan tricks being played!” the Maine GOP posted on X after Trump’s appeal was filed. “Shenna Bellows needs to go and Donald Trump needs to be restored to the Maine ballot!”
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Bellows told the Associated Press on Tuesday that she stands by the move.
“This is part of the process. I have confidence in my decision and confidence in the rule of law. This is Maine’s process and it’s really important that first and foremost every single one of us who serves in government uphold the Constitution and the laws of the state,” she said.
Trump has faced several 14th Amendment challenges to his candidacy, including in states like Michigan and Minnesota, where efforts have failed. In Colorado, the state’s supreme court ruled to remove Trump from the ballot last month. However, the decision was put on pause as it is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.