The first domino fell last month in the left’s effort to kick former President Trump off primary ballots when Colorado’s state Supreme Court deemed him ineligible over a constitutional ban against those who “engaged in insurrection.” Maine was quick to follow suit, with Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ruling the same, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Bellows claims she was required under state law to make the controversial determination.
“I cannot make any other considerations, other than the law and the Constitution, in making a decision in this matter,” she said. “I’m duty bound to set aside any other considerations: personal, political or normative.”
But now one Maine representative is moving to impeach her over the ruling.
“I wish to file a Joint Order, or whichever is the proper parliamentary mechanism under Mason's Rules, to impeach Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. I wish to impeach Secretary Bellows on the grounds that she is barring an American citizen and 45th President of the United States, who is convicted of no crime or impeachment, their right to appear on a Maine Republican Primary ballot," state Rep. John Andrews said in a statement.
“Donald J. Trump has met all qualifications for the March 2024 Republican Presidential Primary. He should be allowed on the ballot. This is raw partisanship and has no place in the offices of our state's Constitutional Officers.”
On social media, Andrews argued Bellows' move is "hyper-partisanship on full display."
"A Secretary of State APPOINTED by legislative Democrats bans President Trump from the 2024 ballot so that she can jockey for position in the 2026 Democrat Primary for Governor. Banana Republic isn't just a store at the mall," he added.
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Andrews emphasized that point.
"In Maine, the people do not elect the Secretary of State, Attorney General or Treasurer," he said. "They are chosen by elected Democrat Party insiders after deals are made in the back room of State House.
"Shenna Bellows knows that the process that put her there is extremely partisan," Andrews continued. "She should know better and be going out of her way to be as neutral as possible to serve every citizen in Maine and not just registered Democrats.
"That’s why she swore an oath to the Constitution and not the Democrat Party," he added. "We are still a republic, but moves like this fracture that foundation, which ultimately is the point of all this."
Bellows pushed back on calls for her impeachment on Saturday.
“It’s absurd and I don’t think it’s lawful under Maine’s constitution to bring impeachment of an elected official for doing their job and upholding the constitution and the rule of law," said Bellows. "But honestly, I think it’s a gambit to distract from disagreement over an issue and this process.”
In Colorado, Trump is back on the ballot while the ruling is appealed, and his campaign is vowing to fight the Maine ruling as well.
Criticism of Bellows' ruling has not just come from Republicans.
“I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection. I do not believe he should be re-elected as President of the United States,” Democrat Congressman Jared Golden said in a statement on X. “However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.”
