In wake of SCOTUS ruling, Maine secretary of state withdraws Trump disqualification

The Supreme Court determined 9-0 that Congress holds the authority to enforce the 14th Amendment's ban on insurrectionists seeking federal office and that the states could not independently do so.

By Ben Whedon

Published: March 4, 2024 4:17pm

After the Supreme Court on Monday unanimously ruled that former President Donald Trump could remain on the 2024 presidential ballot, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows withdrew her decision disqualifying him in that state.

"The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that individual states lack authority to enforce Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment with respect to federal offices," Bellows said in a statement, The Hill reported. "Consistent with my oath and obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and pursuant to the Anderson decision, I hereby withdraw my determination that Mr. Trump’s primary petition is invalid."

The Supreme Court determined 9-0 that Congress holds the authority to enforce the 14th Amendment's ban on insurrectionists seeking federal office and that the states could not independently do so. That case directly addressed the Colorado Supreme Court's determination that Trump was ineligible due to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Both Maine and Illinois had also moved to disqualify Trump. Bellows issued her original decision in December of last year while an Illinois judge last week ordered his removal in that state.

In Maine's case, Bellows had unilaterally issued the disqualification, though the state Supreme Court had placed the matter on hold until the Supreme Court ruled in the Colorado matter.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.