Staff Reports
In a bold move that has Democrats fuming, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat herself, has decided to remove former President Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot in her state. Bellows based her ruling on a section of the 14th Amendment that prohibits individuals who have engaged in insurrection against the United States from taking office. However, her ruling has been met with immediate opposition.
Maine GOP State Rep Moves to Impeach Secretary of State Shenna Bellows for Removing Trump from Ballot https://t.co/ReRirGScer
— Tea Party Patriots (@TPPatriots) January 2, 2024
Republican state Rep. John Andrews wasted no time in filing a request with the Maine Revisor’s Office for a Joint Order to impeach Bellows. Andrews argues that Bellows is unfairly barring an American citizen and the 45th President of the United States, who has not been convicted of any crime or impeached, from appearing on the Maine Republican Primary ballot. Andrews cites the Maine Constitution’s Article IV, Section 8 as his basis for impeachment, asserting that Bellows’ actions are a clear violation of her duties as Secretary of State.
Andrews didn’t hold back in criticizing Bellows, calling her ruling “raw partisanship” and accusing her of using her position to advance her own political ambitions. He also accused her of disenfranchising over 300,000 Maine voters with her partisan move. Andrews pointed out the inherently political nature of the position of Secretary of State in Maine, which is appointed by legislative Democrats rather than elected by the people. He argued that Bellows should be striving to be nonpartisan and upholding the Constitution, rather than serving the interests of the Democrat Party.
Andrews firmly believes that he is defending the Constitution and the rights of the citizens of Maine against Bellows’ overreach. He stressed the importance of Maine being a republic where citizens have a voice, rather than living under the rule of someone like Bellows. However, Bellows is not alone in her attempt to remove Trump from the ballot, as similar efforts have been made in other states. While some have failed, such as in Minnesota, others, like in Colorado, have succeeded. It is expected that the ruling in Colorado will be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
