...His ancestors didn't own any slaves...is fighting to overturn a decision by Maine's election official, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, that disqualified him from participating in the state's Republican presidential primary ballot next year.
Reports from US media reveal that Donald Trump appealed on Tuesday, contesting Bellows' decision, attributing his exclusion to his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.
Donald Trump, currently the leading contender for the Republican nomination, approached a state Superior Court, seeking a reversal of Bellows' ruling that barred him from the ballot set for March 5. Bellows, a Democrat, deemed Trump ineligible for office under the US Constitution, citing his alleged role in inciting the insurrection post his defeat in the 2020 election.
Trump's legal team has consistently refuted claims of his involvement in the insurrection and challenged Bellows' authority to exclude him from the ballot.
The decision stemmed from a plea by former Maine politicians urging Bellows to keep Trump off the ballot, citing a constitutional provision disqualifying individuals who engage in "insurrection" after swearing allegiance to the United States.
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