Maine’s top election official has ruled that Donald Trump cannot run for president next year in the state, citing a constitutional insurrection clause.
Maine’s 34-page ruling says Mr Trump must be removed from its primary ballot because of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution - which bans anyone from holding office that has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion”.
In her order, Mrs Bellows, a Democrat, says that Mr Trump “over the course of several months and culminating on January 6, 2021, used a false narrative of election fraud to inflame his supporters and direct them to the Capitol”.
Speaking with BBC News, Mrs Bellows said it was her duty to uphold election laws in her state, and that she hoped the “Supreme Court will settle this matter nationwide”.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis said Maine’s ruling “opens up Pandora’s Box”, suggesting Republican secretaries of state could try to disqualify President Joe Biden over the issue of migrants at the southern border.
It all leads to a Supreme Court showdown - which Mr Moreno said should take place “rapidly” to stop more states from individually determining Trump’s eligibility.
The original article contains 771 words, the summary contains 187 words. Saved 76%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Maine’s top election official has ruled that Donald Trump cannot run for president next year in the state, citing a constitutional insurrection clause.
Maine’s 34-page ruling says Mr Trump must be removed from its primary ballot because of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution - which bans anyone from holding office that has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion”.
In her order, Mrs Bellows, a Democrat, says that Mr Trump “over the course of several months and culminating on January 6, 2021, used a false narrative of election fraud to inflame his supporters and direct them to the Capitol”.
Speaking with BBC News, Mrs Bellows said it was her duty to uphold election laws in her state, and that she hoped the “Supreme Court will settle this matter nationwide”.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis said Maine’s ruling “opens up Pandora’s Box”, suggesting Republican secretaries of state could try to disqualify President Joe Biden over the issue of migrants at the southern border.
It all leads to a Supreme Court showdown - which Mr Moreno said should take place “rapidly” to stop more states from individually determining Trump’s eligibility.
The original article contains 771 words, the summary contains 187 words. Saved 76%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!