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Trump appeals disqualification from primary ballot in Maine

Wednesday, 03 January 2024 7:22 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 03 January 2024 8:33 AM ]

Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump attends a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, US on December 19, 2023. (File photo by Reuters)

Former US President Donald Trump’s campaign has filed an appeal against a decision by Maine’s top election official disqualifying him from the state’s Republican presidential primary ballot next year, according to a court filing.

Trump’s campaign asked a state Superior Court on Tuesday to reverse the decision by Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows disqualifying the former president from the next primary ballot over his "insurrection" role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.

The former president’s lawyers argue that the decision was "the product of a process infected by bias and pervasive lack of due process."

Trump’s lawyers dispute that the former president played a part in any "insurrection” role and also argue that Bellows does not have the authority to ban him from the Republican primary.

On the other side of the ledger, Bellows argues that her decision is in accordance with the rule of law. "I have confidence in my decision and in the rule of law," Bellows said in a statement after the appeal was filed.

She says Trump cannot serve as the US president under a provision of the US Constitution that bars people from holding office if they engaged in "insurrection" after swearing an oath to the United States.

Colorado Supreme Court disqualifies Trump from holding office

The Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday disqualified former President Donald Trump from the ballot in the state’s presidential election next year over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters.

The US Supreme Court is likely to consider the issue soon, after Colorado’s top court barred Trump from the primary ballot in that state.

Trump’s legal team is expected to appeal the similar decision from Colorado's Supreme Court.

Advocacy groups and some anti-Trump voters have brought several challenges to Trump’s 2024 candidacy under the provision known as Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

Trump’s campaign has called the ballot challenges a “hostile assault on American democracy.”

The lawsuits have argued that Trump incited his supporters to violence by spreading false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and then urged them to descend upon the Capitol to stop Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden's victory.

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