A Maine Republican has announced his intention to impeach his secretary of state, accusing her of overstepping her authority by removing Donald Trump from the state's ballot and arguing that based on her reasoning, Joe Biden should also be removed.
John Andrews, who was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2018, said Friday that he had filed a petition with the Maine Auditor's Office, saying he wanted “a joint order or whatever the proper parliamentary mechanism is under Mason's Rules” for impeachment Submit Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.'
Bellows announced Thursday that Trump was disqualified from state primaries for violating Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits anyone from holding office who has participated in an insurrection.
With her decision, Maine became the second state to remove Trump from the ballot, after the Colorado Supreme Court reached the same conclusion on December 19. Colorado's ruling was temporarily overturned on Thursday as the Republican Party appealed, and the decision in both Maine and Colorado is expected to go to the U.S. Supreme Court – something Bellows said he welcomes.
Andrews said he wants to impeach Bellows “on the grounds that she denies an American citizen and the 45th President of the United States, who has not been convicted of a crime or impeached, the right to vote in a Republican Party election in March.” of Maine.”
John Andrews, a Republican in the Maine House of Representatives, filed a motion to impeach Secretary of State Sheena Bellows on Friday
Bellows announced Thursday that Donald Trump was ineligible to appear on her state's ballot
Bellows argued that under Maine law, Trump does not have to be convicted to be disqualified – just for participating in an insurrection. As a result of her decision, she received death threats.
Trump's campaign has denounced the decision, calling Bellows a “vicious leftist and bipartisan Biden-supporting Democrat.”
Steven Cheung, Trump's spokesman, said: “We are witnessing in real time the attempted theft of the election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter.”
“Make no mistake, these partisan election interference efforts are a hostile attack on American democracy.”
Andrews told Fox News on Friday morning that he believes Joe Biden could also be removed from the vote based on their reasoning.
“Under Shenna Bellows’ new standard, one could argue that President Biden is disqualified based on section three – giving aid or comfort to his enemies,” he said.
“I would argue that releasing billions to Iran and selling our strategic oil reserves to Chinese interests could count as such if convictions are not required under Shenna Bellows’ new rules.”
“And that’s why this is such a dangerous game that she’s created.”
Andrews said Bellows, a Democrat who tweeted in 2021 that she believed Trump had participated in an insurrection, was a partisan who was not qualified to make the decision.
“In Maine, the people do not elect the secretary of state, the attorney general or the treasurer,” he said.
“They are chosen by elected Democratic Party insiders after deals are made in the back room of the State House.”
“Shenna Bellows knows that the process that got her there is extremely biased.
“She should know better and make every effort to be as neutral as possible to serve every citizen in Maine and not just registered Democrats.”
Trump's campaign accused Bellows of attempted “election theft”
He said their move disenfranchised 300,060 people – the number of registered Republicans in Maine.
“That’s why she swore an oath to the Constitution and not to the Democratic Party,” he added. “We are still a republic, but this break changes that foundation, which is ultimately the point of all this.”
Andrews praised Jared Golden, a Democrat who represents Maine in Washington, D.C., for speaking out against Bellows' move despite his dislike of Trump. Golden voted to impeach Trump.
“I don’t believe he should be re-elected as president of the United States,” Golden said Thursday night.
“However, we are a nation of laws, so he should be allowed on the ballot until he is actually convicted of the crime of insurrection.”
Bellows told CNN on Friday that she stands by her decision.
“I have examined section three of the 14th Amendment very carefully and have concluded that section three of the 14th Amendment does not say 'belief,' it says 'commitment,'” she said.
“And let us look back and remember that the events of January 6, 2021 were unprecedented and tragic.”
“This was an attack, not only on the Capitol and government officials, the former vice president and members of Congress, but also an attack on the rule of law.”
“And the weight of evidence that I reviewed suggested that it was, in fact, an insurrection.”
“And Mr. Trump participated in this insurrection under Section Three of the 14th Amendment.”
Bellows thanked the security team that protected her after the death threats.
“I was prepared for the possibility of threats and have a deep appreciation for law enforcement and the people around me who have worked incredibly hard to keep me safe,” she said.
“My safety is important to me, as is the safety of everyone who works with me, and we have received threatening messages.”