Maine secretary of state's decision to remove Trump may escalate

• Deputy independent counsel Sol Weisenberg discusses the legal implications of a recent decision.

• The attorney general's decision in Maine may be challenged in the state's superior court.

• The issue of whether a non-conviction should disqualify a candidate will reach the Supreme Court.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows speaks at an event, Jan. 4, 2023, in Augusta, Maine. Bellows on Thursday, Dec. 28, removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary

Reuters

In a recent development, the Deputy Independent Counsel in the Whitewater and American writer investigations, Sol Weisenberg, along with former U.S. Attorney and Executive Director of Right on Crime, Brett Tolman, shared their insight on the next steps regarding a decision made by the Attorney General and Secretary of State of Maine.

According to Weisenberg, the decision made by the Maine Secretary of State will be reviewed by the Superior Court in Maine and could potentially reach the state's Supreme Court. However, both experts agreed that the issue will likely be intertwined with the ongoing litigation in the U.S. Supreme Court. They expressed their belief that the Supreme Court will ultimately decide the matter, and they anticipate a ruling that would go against the decisions made in both Maine and Colorado.

Tolman emphasized the authority of the Secretary of State, stating that they should only consider three criteria when determining a candidate's eligibility for the presidency: natural-born citizenship, residing in the U.S. for 14 years, and being at least 35 years old. He argued that the Secretary of State does not possess the power to review non-convictions or non-charged offenses such as an insurrection, thereby questioning the justification for the decision made.

The experts agreed that the Supreme Court would play a crucial role in resolving this matter. Tolman expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would expedite the process and rule in favor of former President Donald Trump. However, Weisenberg raised concerns about the potential impact of this decision, suggesting that it could open the door for pro-Trump state officials to determine the eligibility of other candidates, including President Joe Biden, thereby undermining the balance of power.

The public response to the decision in Maine has been varied, with Senator Angus King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, publicly disagreeing with the removal of Trump from the ballot. Additionally, Congressman Golden expressed opposition to the decision, emphasizing the importance of following due process and stating that until Trump is found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.

The experts concurred that the case could result in a spiraling cycle of both sides challenging decisions made, potentially leading to individuals being stripped from the ballot before voters can have their say. They highlighted the need for a fair and legal approach to avoid such scenarios.

As the matter moves forward, the legal community and political observers await further developments and anticipate the Supreme Court's ultimate ruling, which will likely shape the landscape of future electoral decisions on a national scale.