"I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment," Bellows wrote in her decision. "I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection. The oath I swore to uphold the Constitution comes first above all, and my duty under Maine’s election laws, when presented with a Section 336 challenge, is to ensure that candidates who appear on the primary ballot are qualified for the office they seek."
“The events of January 6, 2021 were unprecedented and tragic," Bellows continued. "They were an attack not only upon the Capitol and government officials, but also an attack on the rule of law. The evidence here demonstrates that they occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President. The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government, and [Maine law] requires me to act in response.”
Bellows, the top election official in the state, had heard legal challenges from both sides of the issue earlier this month before announcing her decision on Thursday. The move comes a day after the Michigan Supreme Court rejected efforts to remove Trump from their state's ballot.
The article notes that "[l]ike the Colorado Supreme Court, Bellows suspended the effects of her decision pending appeal."
No comments:
Post a Comment