Donald Trump Takes Aim at Maine Secretary of State

Former President Donald Trump’s legal professionals issued a letter Wednesday demanding that Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows recuse herself from her resolution on Trump’s poll eligibility.

Attorneys Benjamin Hartwell, Scott Gessler and Gary Lawkowski cited Bellows’ previous statements on X, previously Twitter, about Trump’s function within the January 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol.

“The Jan. 6 riot was an illegal try and overthrow the outcomes of a free and truthful election,” Bellows wrote. “Immediately 57 Senators together with King & Collins discovered Trump responsible. That is wanting impeachment however nonetheless an indictment. The insurrectionists failed, and democracy prevailed.”

Bellows has mentioned she intends to announce her resolution quickly as as to if Trump is eligible for or disqualified from placement on Maine’s 2024 presidential main poll beneath the 14th Modification.

By calling the Senate vote an “indictment,” Trump’s legal professionals argue within the letter that Bellows has already “exhibited a private bias in opposition to” their shopper.

“The Secretary has bluntly acknowledged that President Trump ought to have been impeached, and later referred to as him an ‘insurrectionist’ who ‘failed.’ These statements handle the very claims at subject on this case; certainly, the Secretary has already agreed with the Challengers’ factual claims,” the attorneys mentioned.

“President Trump deserves a good and neutral listening to. Each the Maine legislature and Maine courts demand that state administrative proceedings should be carried out pretty and with integrity.”

A spokesperson for Bellows’ workplace informed Newsweek: “The Secretary will not be commenting whereas this matter is pending.”

Newsweek has reached out to Trump’s marketing campaign by way of electronic mail for remark.

The letter from Trump’s legal professionals additionally factors to a publish by Bellows on the one-year anniversary of the riot.

“One yr after the violent riot, it is essential to do all we are able to to safeguard our elections,” Bellows wrote, alongside a repost of a information report highlighting her personal efforts in Maine.

Trump’s legal professionals acknowledged within the letter: “Utilizing related language, the Challengers have claimed that the occasions of January 6, 2021, constituted a violent riot and that President Trump in some way poses a hazard from which Maine voters should be protected. Thus, the Secretary has already handed judgment on the Challengers’ core assertions.”

Part 3 of the 14th Modification states that an individual who “engaged in riot or rise up” after taking an oath of workplace to assist the U.S. Structure can not run for workplace once more.

Earlier Wednesday, the Michigan Supreme Courtroom rejected an enchantment to have Trump disqualified from operating for president within the state. In a 4-3 resolution on December 19, Trump was barred by the Colorado Supreme Courtroom from showing on the state’s main ballots.

Not like different states, together with Colorado and Michigan, the place plaintiffs have sued over Trump’s eligibility in court docket, Maine’s system permits Bellows, the secretary of state, to weigh in. Bellows is contemplating three challenges to Trump’s poll entry. Challengers can then enchantment in state court docket.

Maine, which splits its 4 electoral votes proportionally by congressional district, holds its main on March 5, which is Tremendous Tuesday.

President Joe Biden received three of the state’s 4 electoral votes in 2020, whereas Trump received the fourth.