Maine’s Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, revealed that she has been the target of threats following her decision to exclude former President Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment. In a CNN appearance on Friday, Bellows acknowledged the possibility of threats and expressed gratitude for the support she has received from law enforcement and those around her.
She stated, “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. My safety and security are important, so is the safety and security of everyone who works with me, and we have received threatening communications.” Bellows emphasized the significance of ensuring the safety and security of herself and her team amidst the challenging situation. the target of threats
On Thursday, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows asserted that former President Trump, over several months leading up to January 6, 2021, propagated a false narrative of election fraud to incite his supporters and direct them to the Capitol, aiming to hinder the certification of the 2020 election and the peaceful transfer of power. This decision marked Maine as the second state, following a 4-3 ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court last week, to remove Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment.
Bellows emphasized that Trump’s occasional calls for peaceful protests and support for law enforcement do not absolve his actions. She argued, “A brief call to obey the law does not erase conduct over the course of months, culminating in his speech on the Ellipse. The weight of the evidence makes clear that Mr. Trump was aware of the tinder laid by his multi-month effort to delegitimize a democratic election, and then chose to light a match.”
In response, the Trump campaign denounced the decision, labeling Bellows as a “virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat.” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung declared the move an “attempted theft of an election” and an “assault on American democracy,” vowing to appeal the ruling. The situation underscores the ongoing debate over the role of political figures in the events surrounding the Capitol riot and their potential consequences.