Maine Officials Consider Attempting to Block Trump from Ballot

(AmericanProsperity.com) – According to a Bangor Daily News September 1 report, Maine’s high-ranking public officials are assessing whether or not former president and GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump is eligible on Maine’s 2024 presidential ballot. The former commander-in-chief suffered a major defeat in this state in the 2020 presidential election, with then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden winning by 9 points.

As reported by this media outlet, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Attorney General Arron Frey announced they are “working together” to study and analyze all legal requirements for presidential ballot access. Both Frey and Bellows, who are part of the Democratic Party, announced this action in a statement about Maine’s election laws and the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.

While the two officials didn’t mention Trump by name, many lawyers believe that citing the US 14th Amendment is referring to Trump’s role in the Capitol riot. According to Congress.gov, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment contains a clear prohibition against candidates who have engaged in rebellion against public office. This section states that any politician who has committed these acts and has previously “taken an oath of office” is not allowed to have another public office role.

In the joint statement, Bellows pointed out she has faced numerous decisions about candidate ballot eligibility during major election cycles in her role as Maine’s Secretary of State. The two officers also noted that every decision about ballot access in Maine will be made on time and in a “dispassionate” manner. They also said this would be in accordance with the US Constitution.

Republican Maine Representative Josh Turner said during an interview with News Center Maine that ongoing court cases related to the Capitol riots still mention the former president. He said that Trump has not been officially convicted “of anything,” and pointed out he has the right to run for president as accusations aren’t convictions.