Attorneys for former President Donald Trump are asking Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to recuse herself from making a decision about whether Trump’s name can appear on primary ballots, saying that she is biased against him.
In a letter dated Wednesday, the attorneys at Gessler Blue Law allege that three public posts on X, formerly Twitter, show that she is not capable of making a fair decision.
“President Trump requests that the Secretary disqualify herself from this matter because she has already concluded that President Trump engaged in insurrection — a determination that she made well before the submission of evidence or argument in this current matter,” they wrote. “Because the Secretary has exhibited a personal bias in this matter, she should disqualify herself from further proceedings.”
A spokeswoman for Bellows said she will not comment while the matter is pending.
The letter references three posts, including one on Feb. 13, 2021.
“The Jan. 6 insurrection was an unlawful attempt to overthrow the results of a free and fair election,” Bellows wrote. “Today 57 Senators including King & Collins found Trump guilty. That’s short of impeachment but nevertheless an indictment. The insurrectionists failed, and democracy prevailed.”
Bellows, a Democrat appointed to her post by the Democratic controlled Legislature, held a hearing Dec. 15 to consider challenges to Trump from former Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling, a Democrat, and former state Sen. Kimberly Rosen, a Republican, among others.
They argued Trump incited insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021 during a speech to supporters before they attacked the Capitol to try to stop the Electoral College votes from being counted.
Trump attorneys say Trump he did not engage in insurrection and that Bellows does not have the power to keep him off the ballot.
The allegations of bias come as Mainers await Bellows’ decision on whether Trump’s name should appear on March 5 Republican primary ballots.
Those working to keep him off the ballot say the Constitution specifically refers to insurrection in the 14th Amendment, saying that “no person” can serve if they previously took the oath of office and “have engaged in insurrection or rebellion.”
Other states have ruled on similar cases, with the Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday rejecting an attempt to remove Trump and the Colorado Supreme Court ruling Dec. 19 that his name cannot appear on ballot there.
The Colorado Republican Party has appealed that ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.