Former President Donald Trump has formally petitioned a Maine court to reverse the decision of Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who removed him from the 2024 primary ballot in the state due to his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021, US Capitol insurrection.
Bellows, a Democrat, cited a Civil War-era provision that bars individuals who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office as the basis for her decision.
In his appeal filed on Tuesday, Trump asserted that Bellows is a “biased decisionmaker” lacking the legal authority to hear the challenge against him. He argued that she “should have recused herself” and failed to afford him sufficient time and opportunity to present a defense.
Trump contended that he fulfilled all requirements outlined by the Maine Legislature to be included in the Republican primary ballot and criticized Bellows for wrongfully denying him that opportunity. Furthermore, he accused her of failing to provide lawful due process, making multiple errors of law, and acting “in an arbitrary and capricious manner.”
The former president denied engaging in insurrection on January 6, putting both “engaged” and “insurrection” in quotation.
The Maine court is expected to consider Trump’s appeal before the scheduled presidential primary election on March 5, 2024. If the case reaches the US Supreme Court, its ruling will have a final and decisive impact on Trump’s eligibility in Maine and other contested states.
Related: Colorado GOP Asks SCOTUS to Keep Trump on 2024 Ballot
Trump is facing similar challenges in other states, including Colorado where the state Supreme Court ordered his removal from the primary ballot. He plans to appeal these decisions to the US Supreme Court.
According to an earlier report from the New York Times which cited a person familiar with the matter, Trump has privately expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will rule against the Colorado and Maine decisions.
But Trump has not had a good history with the Supreme Court. His administration saw the worst record of any other administration in almost a century — despite him appointing three justices to create a supermajority of six Republican to three Democratic appointees.
“I’m not happy with the Supreme Court,” Trump said in a speech outside the Capitol on January 6, 2021, as he rallied his supporters to march on in. “They love to rule against me.”
The Times also notes that the Supreme Court has shown little interest in Trump’s election-related cases. This could mean that instead of ruling on the Colorado decision, and Maine if it reaches the Supreme Court, they could pass the ball down for Congressional action before they decide to intervene.
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