Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine says voters should get to decide about Trump: 'This is the ultimate check within our Constitutional system'

In response to Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows' move to block former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot, Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who is listed as a member of the Senate Democratic caucus, issued a statement in which he suggested that voters should get to decide the fate Trump's presidential candidacy.

"Under the established Constitutional process, the Senate was called upon to determine this precise question in Donald Trump's impeachment trial in January, 2021. While I voted with a bipartisan majority to convict, the required two-thirds of the Senate did not do so," King said in the statement.

While the House voted to impeach then-President Trump in the wake of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, the Senate vote — which occurred in February after Trump had already departed from office — fell short of the threshold necessary for conviction.

"Although I respect the Secretary of State's careful process — which she was specifically required to undertake under Maine law — absent a final judicial determination of a violation of the 14th Amendment's disqualification clause, I believe the decision as to whether or not Mr. Trump should again be considered for the presidency should rest with the people as expressed in free and fair elections. This is the ultimate check within our Constitutional system," King concluded.

In her decision, Bellows stated that evidence demonstrated "the falsity of Mr. Trump's declaration that he meets the qualifications of the office of the presidency," and she declared that "as required ... I find that the primary petition of Mr. Trump is invalid."

But her ruling may never actually take effect, because she stipulated, "I will suspend the effect of my decision until the Superior Court rules on any appeal, or the time to appeal under 21-A, Section 337 has expired."

"We will quickly file a legal objection in state court to prevent this atrocious decision in Maine from taking effect," Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a Thursday statement.

Democratic Rep. Jared Golden of Maine said in a statement that unless Trump is determined to be guilty of insurrection, he should be permitted to be appear on the ballot.

"I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection," Golden said in the statement. "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."

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who was one of the seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump after the House voted to impeach him in 2021, does not think that Bellows' decision should stand.

"Maine voters should decide who wins the election – not a Secretary of State chosen by the Legislature. The Secretary of State's decision would deny thousands of Mainers the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice, and it should be overturned," a post on the @SenatorCollins X account reads. The social media account indicates that "All tweets originate from the Press Office of Senator Susan Collins."

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