Former President Donald Trump has filed an appeal with a Maine court, seeking to overturn the decision made by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to remove him from the 2024 primary ballot. The decision was made due to Trump's alleged role in the January 6, 2021, US Capitol insurrection.

Secretary of State Bellows, a Democrat, announced her decision last week in accordance with a provision of the Constitution dating back to the Civil War era. The provision states that individuals who have "engaged in insurrection" are prohibited from holding office. However, Bellows has paused her decision, allowing Trump to appeal it before the presidential primary election scheduled for March 5, 2024.

This is not the only state where Trump's eligibility has been called into question. In Colorado, the state Supreme Court has already ordered Trump's removal from the primary ballot, citing the same constitutional provision. Trump plans to appeal this decision to the US Supreme Court.

If the US Supreme Court takes up the case, its ruling will have far-reaching implications, not only for Trump's candidacy in Colorado and Maine but in other states where his eligibility is being challenged.

Trump's appeal argues that Secretary of State Bellows was a biased decision-maker and did not have the authority to hear the challenge seeking to disqualify him from office. He claims that Bellows should have recused herself and that he was not given adequate time and opportunity to present a defense.

In his appeal filing, Trump asserts that he met all the requirements set forth by the Maine Legislature in the statute and should be placed on the Republican primary ballot. He accuses Bellows of denying him a rightful place on the ballot, asserting that he did not "engage" in insurrection, as alleged.

Trump further contends that Bellows failed to provide lawful due process and made multiple errors of law while acting in an arbitrary and capricious manner.

The outcome of Trump's appeal will determine whether he will be eligible to appear on the primary ballot in Maine, Colorado, and other states where his eligibility is being challenged. As the legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen if the US Supreme Court will weigh in on this contentious issue.