Topline
Former President Donald Trump filed an appeal Tuesday asking a state court in Maine to reverse the secretary of state’s decision to bar him from appearing on the 2024 primary ballot—the latest legal challenge to Trump’s candidacy over whether he violated the 14th Amendment by inciting an insurrection, a question that could eventually be settled by the Supreme Court.
Maine blocked Trump from its presidential primary ballot last week. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty … [+] Images)
Key Facts
The appeal, which was filed in Kennebec Superior Court, comes just four days after Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, ruled Trump’s name should not appear on the ballot, citing his role in the Capitol riot.
Trump claimed Bellows lacked the jurisdiction to bar him from running for president and requested the secretary of state be ordered to place him on the presidential ballot.
Trump’s attorneys wrote in a filing that Bellows should have recused herself due to a bias she has against the former president, citing a “documented history of prior statements prejudging the issue presented,” according to the Associated Press.
The former president is expected to appeal a similar measure in Colorado in the coming days.
Key Background
Bellows said in her ruling that Trump knew of, supported and incited the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, which resulted in the deaths of five police officers. Bellows’ decision is the first time a state official acted unilaterally to remove a presidential candidate under the insurrection clause, which was also used by the Colorado Supreme Court in December, when it ruled to disqualify Trump from its primary ballot. The rulings in Maine and Colorado will likely set up a showdown in the U.S. Supreme Court considering Trump is also expected to appeal the Colorado ruling. The former president still faces several other legal battles in the form of four criminal cases against him in which he’s been charged with dozens of felony counts, along with civil action. The soonest development in those cases will materialize on Jan. 11, when closing arguments will be heard in the ongoing civil fraud trial against Trump and his company. A verdict for the case is expected by the end of January.
Further Reading
Trump Barred From Maine Ballot Under Insurrection Clause (Forbes)
