Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows appeals court decision in Trump ballot case
PORTLAND (WGME) -- Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has appealed the Kennebec County Superior Court's decision in the case to keep former President Donald Trump off the ballot.
On Wednesday, the court ruled that Bellows' decision to remove Trump will have to wait until the U.S. Supreme Court makes a decision on Trump's appeal that he should be included on Colorado's ballot.
In December, Bellows ruled that Trump violated his constitutional oath when he engaged in an insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
"He is not qualified to hold the office of the President under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment," Bellows said.
When making her ruling, Bellows had said that she would wait to see how the courts rule on this matter before officially taking Trump's name off any ballots.
Trump's legal team had asked the Kennebec County Superior Court to delay its ruling until the U.S. Supreme Court could rule on the Colorado case.
The court agreed that Bellows' decision should be put on hold until the Supreme Court ruling but denied Trump's claims that she was biased in making that decision.
On Friday, Bellows decided to appeal to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
“Like many Americans, I welcome a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court in the Colorado case that provides guidance as to the important Fourteenth Amendment questions in this case.
“In the interim, Maine law provides the opportunity to seek review from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court – which I requested today. I know both the constitutional and state authority questions are of grave concern to many. This appeal ensures that Maine’s highest court has the opportunity to weigh in now, before ballots are counted, promoting trust in our free, safe and secure elections.”