Trump appeals exclusion from Maine primary

Donald Trump appealed the decision of the Secretary of State of Maine, Democrat Shenna Bellows, to prevent his participation in the Republican primaries in this state. In a harsh argument, the former president's defense denounced that Bellows was "biased" and "had no legal authority" to determine whether Trump was part of an insurrection. In addition, Trump's defense points out that the secretary "made multiple errors of law and acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner." The lawyers also asked the judge to set the oral hearing before January 16.

Trump formally filed the appeal last Tuesday in Kennebec County Superior Court in Augusta. In the document, Trump's defense accuses Bellows of being "a biased decisionmaker who should have recused herself and otherwise failed to provide lawful due process."

Trump demands his return to the electoral race "immediately"

The brief also claims that the appeals court include the former president in the electoral race in this state "immediately", alleging that Bellows determined Trump's involvement in the insurrection based "entirely on the public speeches of President Trump." The lawyers point out that these "speeches did not incite insurrection, and therefore President Trump's political speech was protected by the First Amendment."

In addition, Trump argued that the application of the 14th Amendment " is not self-executing " and that this is the exclusive power of Congress and the Electoral College, so Bellows has " no jurisdiction or authority" to keep Trump out of the polls of the state.