Augusta, Maine - In a bold move, Republican lawmaker Rep. John Andrews of Paris has formally introduced a resolution seeking to impeach Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows for her decision to rule former President Donald Trump ineligible for Maine's primary ballot. Despite the controlled majority of Democrats in the Legislature, Andrews' resolution will initiate a debate on Tuesday, marking the first impeachment resolution considered in the State House since 2016.

The impeachment effort stems from Bellows' decision on December 28 to disqualify Trump from the March 5 primary ballot, finding him in violation of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals who engage in insurrection from holding office. Bellows cited Trump's role in inciting the January 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol as the justification for her ruling.

Under the powers granted by the Maine Constitution, the House has the authority to impeach an official with a simple majority of votes, while the Senate holds the power to remove the individual from office with a two-thirds majority. As Democrats control both chambers, it is expected that Bellows will retain her position.

Andrews' impeachment resolution calls for a special investigative committee in the House to review allegations of "misconduct" by Bellows, specifically highlighting her failure to recuse herself due to bias in overseeing the hearing after serving as an elector for President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The resolution mandates that the special committee submit its findings to the House by January 31.

Arguing that Trump met the qualifications to appear on Maine's ballot, Andrews contends that the former president, despite facing four pending criminal cases, remains the front runner to face President Biden again in November.

In response to Bellows' decision, Trump's attorneys have appealed to the Kennebec County Superior Court, and the potential involvement of the U.S. Supreme Court looms over the efforts to disqualify him. So far, similar attempts in Colorado and Maine have successfully disqualified Trump from appearing on primary ballots.

Bellows defended her ruling by pointing to Maine law, which required her as secretary of state to address three challenges to Trump's eligibility. She argued that the evidence presented in December demonstrated Trump's use of a "false narrative of election fraud to inflame his supporters and direct them to the Capitol to prevent certification of the 2020 election and the peaceful transfer of power."

As the impeachment resolution moves forward, political tension surrounding the eligibility of former President Trump for Maine's primary ballot continues to escalate.

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