She's the Secretary of State in Maine in charge of running elections there,

including the Republican primary election which of course featured

former President Donald Trump.

And here is where her decision comes in.

Under main law, when I qualified Mr. Trump for the ballot,

any registered voter had the right

to challenge that qualification. Five

voters did so including two former Republican state senators. Those voters wanted

Trump off the ballot. They argued that his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol made

him ineligible to serve as president. They cited the 14th Amendment of the

Constitution, which prohibits certain officials who have engaged in, quote,

insurrection or rebellion against the United States from holding office again.

So, Bellows held a hearing, and she said the case was clear. The events of January 6th

were an attack on the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power.

And the evidence presented at the hearing demonstrated that they occurred at the behest of and

with the knowledge and support of the outgoing president and the United

States Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government and under mean election

law I was required to act in response.

The criticism was fierce.

In her own party Democratic Representative Jared Golden said,

until Trump is found guilty of the crime of insurrection,

he should be allowed on the ballot.

...