Internet slams 'circus' as Maine GOP seeks to impeach Shenna Bellows after Trump's removal from ballot

PARIS, MAINE: John Andrews, a Republican congressman from Maine, has submitted a notice of his intent to impeach Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.

Bellows' decision to remove Donald Trump from Maine's presidential ballot is the basis for his impeachment request.

Andrews contends that this decision was beyond Bellows' authority and that, by her rationale, Joe Biden should also be removed.

Bellows' decision to disqualify Trump from the state primaries was based on a violation of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits anyone who has engaged in insurrection from holding office.

Maine is the second state to strike Trump from the ballot, following Colorado's Supreme Court decision on December 19.

However, the Republican party has filed an appeal against Colorado's ruling, which has temporarily suspended it.

The decisions in both Maine and Colorado are expected to go to the US Supreme Court, which Bellows has welcomed, per a report by DailyMail.

What did Rep John Andrews say about his filing?

Rep. John Andrews filed a request with the Maine Revisor's Office, and told Fox News on Friday, December 29, that he wanted “to file a Joint Order, or whichever is the proper parliamentary mechanism under Mason's Rules, to impeach Secretary of State Shenna Bellows".

Andrews explained that he wants to impeach Bellows “on the grounds that she is barring an American citizen and 45th President of the United States, who is convicted of no crime or impeachment, their right to appear on a Maine Republican Party ballot in March".

“Under Shenna Bellows' new standard you could argue that President Biden be barred due to Section Three - the giving of aid or comfort to the enemies thereof,” he said.

The Maine Republican congressman continued, “I would argue that releasing billions to Iran and selling our strategic oil reserves to Chinese interests could qualify as that, if no convictions are required under Shenna Bellows' new rules.”

“And that is why this is such a dangerous game that she has created,” Andrews stated.

Andrews argued that Bellows, a Democrat, who tweeted in 2021 that she believed Trump had engaged in insurrection, was a partisan who was unfit to make the decision.

He said, “In Maine, the people do not elect the Secretary of State, Attorney General or Treasurer. They are chosen by elected Democrat Party insiders after deals are made in the back room of State House. Shenna Bellows knows that the process that put her there is extremely partisan.”

“She should know better and be going out of her way to be as neutral as possible to serve every citizen in Maine and not just registered Democrats,” the congressman added.

He noted that her ruling on Thursday, December 28, disenfranchised 300,060 US citizens, which amounts to the number of registered Republicans in Maine.

“That's why she swore an oath to the Constitution and not the Democrat Party,” he continued. “We are still a Republic, but moves like this fracture that foundation, which ultimately is the point of all this.”

Trump's campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, has condemned the decision and called Bellows a “virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat".

Cheung said, “We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter. Make no mistake, these partisan election interference efforts are a hostile assault on American democracy.”

Despite his dislike of Trump and having voted to impeach him in the past, Maine Democrat Representative Jared Golden spoke out against Bellows' decision, drawing praise from Rep. John Andrews.

Rep. Golden said on Thursday regarding Bellows’ ruling, “I do not believe he should be re-elected as President of the United States. However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.”

What did Maine Secretary of State Bellows say?

Bellows was interviewed on CNN and said she stood by her ruling on Thursday.

“I reviewed Section Three of the 14th Amendment very carefully and determined that Section Three of the 14th Amendment does not say 'conviction,' it says 'engage'," she said.

“And, let's go back and keep in mind that the events of January 6, 2021, were unprecedented and tragic. This was an attack, not only on the Capitol and the government officials, the former Vice President, members of Congress, but an attack on the rule of law,” adding, “And the weight of evidence that I reviewed indicated that it was, in fact, an insurrection. And Mr Trump engaged in that insurrection under Section Three of the 14th Amendment.”

Meanwhile, she has reportedly received death threats as a consequence of her decision.

The Maine Secretary of State thanked her security team, saying “I was prepared for the possibility of threats, and I really appreciate law enforcement and the people around me who have been incredibly supportive of my safety and security,” adding, “My safety and security is important, so is the safety and security of everyone who works with me and we have received threatening communications.”

Internet reacts as Maine GOP congressman files to impeach Shenna Bellows

People on X mocked Rep. Andrews for filing a baseless request to impeach the state's Secretary of State in reaction to her ruling to disqualify Trump from the state's primary ballot.

One X user wrote: "All circus theatre. Don’t legitimize any of it."

Another user remarked: "And 'round and 'round we go!"

Another user said: "I’m sure that will go no where"

One user quipped: "Republicans are all talk."

Another X user stated: "I think Mr Johnson should remember 2 Republicans and 1 Dem asked to keep him off the ballot because Trump committed insurrection and was the key person behind it. Even boosted that 1/6 would “be wild”. I mean when Republican start asking for him not to be on ballots, I have hope."

One user remarked: "Not going to happen."

Finally, this user tweeted: "Hahs good luck with that."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.