Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has moved to exclude former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 primary ballot, reigniting a formidable challenge for the controversial figure. The decision, attributed to Trump’s involvement in the Capitol riots of January 6, 2021, has garnered support as a robust legal stance, labeled as “very solid” by former Nixon White House attorney John Dean. Dean, speaking exclusively to CNN, expressed doubts about the Trump campaign’s claims of “election interference,” highlighting the fair due process in the proceedings.
In a recent interview, Dean affirmed, “They just lost by a straight, honest reading of the 14th Amendment. Trump’s in trouble.”
At the heart of the matter lies the 14th Amendment, which bars individuals who engage in insurrection after pledging to support the Constitution from holding office. Both Bellows in Maine and a recent Colorado Supreme Court ruling have concurred that Trump’s actions on January 6 align with this constitutional definition.
Bellows emphasized Trump’s use of a false narrative about election fraud to incite his supporters, acknowledging an awareness of the potential for violence. She underscored that not only did Trump encourage violence through inflammatory rhetoric, but he also failed to take timely action to prevent it.
The Trump campaign, committed to appealing the Maine ruling, is setting the stage for potential Supreme Court involvement. However, Dean expressed doubts about the Supreme Court overturning these decisions, citing the straightforward language of the amendment.
“I want to see those strict constructionists and originalists get around that language,” Dean challenged. “How are they going to do it? It looks so applicable. I don’t know what they can do with it other than take [Trump] off the ballot.”
The unfolding legal saga has Americans anxiously awaiting the resolution of a case that could significantly impact Trump’s political future.
