Washington: The former US President Donald Trump’s chances of running for the White House again in 2024 have been dealt another blow, as the state of Maine has followed Colorado in declaring him ineligible for the election. The top election official of Maine said that Trump was disqualified for his role in inciting the violent attack on the US Capitol in January 2021, which was an assault on the foundation of American democracy.
Trump not eligible for Maine primary election
The state of Maine on Thursday announced that it would not allow Trump to participate in its primary election as the Republican presidential candidate, citing his involvement in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, according to news agency AFP. The primary election is the process by which the political parties select their nominees for the presidential election.
The Maine Secretary of State Shenae Bellows said in her decision that Trump was responsible for the events of January 6, 2021, as he ordered, encouraged, and supported the mob that stormed the Capitol building, where the Congress was certifying the election results. She said that Trump’s actions violated the US Constitution, which does not tolerate an attack on the foundation of the government, and the Maine state law, which requires her to take action in response.
Trump faces legal challenges in other states
The state of Maine is not the first to ban Trump from running in its election. Earlier this month, the state of Colorado also disqualified Trump from its election, for the same reason for his involvement in the attack on the US Capitol. Colorado and Maine are both considered swing states, which means that they can vote for either the Republican or the Democratic party in the presidential election.
Trump, who has not conceded his defeat in the 2020 presidential election and has repeatedly claimed that the election was rigged and stolen from him, is expected to challenge these decisions in the US Supreme Court. However, he may face legal hurdles, as the Supreme Court has previously upheld the right of the states to set their own rules for the election. Trump may also face criminal charges for his role in the attack on the US Capitol, which resulted in the death of five people and the injury of many others.
