Washington, Dec. 29, (dpa/GNA) – Maine on Thursday became the second US state to exclude former president Donald Trump from next year’s presidential primary.
Maine’s top election official, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, ruled that the ex-president’s primary nomination petition was “invalid,” according to a document released on Thursday.
According to the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, Trump is “not qualified to hold the office of the President,” the ruling reads.
The amendment states that people who have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the constitution are excluded from elections. Trump’s campaign team announced its intention to take action against the decision.
Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. Congress had convened there to formally confirm the victory of Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election. Trump said in a speech just before his supporters entered the building that “everyone here will be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”
Five people died as a result of the riots.
Based on these events, various plaintiffs in different US states are attempting to have Trump’s name removed from the ballot for the 2024 presidential election.
Last week, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was ineligible for the March 5 state primary due to his role in the storming of the Capitol and therefore could not participate in the primary election.
The conservative legal group American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) said on Wednesday it was challenging the Colorado court’s decision on behalf of the Republican Party of Colorado. It is seeking the US Supreme Court to overturn the ruling.
The Colorado Supreme Court has itself stayed its decision until the issue has been finally clarified in the event of an appeal.
Bellows also suspended her decision for the time being.
State-by-state intra-party voting begins in January with the state of Iowa. These primary elections determine who will be on the ballot for the US election on November 5.
Trump hopes to win the 2024 US presidential election and return to the White House.