Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Inside Washington email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
Maine Republican Party chair Joel Stetkis endured a car crash interview with CNN on Tuesday where he repeatedly refused to offer any explanation as to why he objects to Donald Trump being removed from the state’s GOP primary ballot.
The Pine Tree State is scheduled to vote on who it wants as the Republican nominee to challenge President Joe Biden on Super Tuesday on 5 March.
But, currently, Mr Trump is out of the running in the state.
Maine’s secretary of state Shenna Bellows ruled on 28 December that Mr Trump would be blocked from the ballot in her state, as he has been in Colorado, under Section Three of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibits anyone who has violated their oath of office by engaging in an insurrection from running for office.
Maine Republicans reacted angrily to Ms Bellows’ decision and immediately vowed to challenge it, as has the Trump campaign, which filed its appeal on Tuesday.
RECOMMENDED
Jeffrey Epstein list: Unsealed documents name Trump, Clinton and Prince Andrew
Undo
Trump to face new civil trial for duping investors with failed phone
Undo
Combat Siege
If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is addicted.Combat Siege| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
investing.com
Public Signs That Had Us Giggling the Whole Timeinvesting.com| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Powered by Taboola Powered by Taboola
But when asked repeatedly by CNN anchor Boris Sanchez to explain the specific legal basis for his objection to the secretary of state’s ruling, Mr Stetkis was unable to provide an answer – other than to claim the move was anti-democratic in principle.
Speaking to the network’s News Central show from his home in Augusta via Skype, Mr Stetkis said: “I think the simplest way we can put this really is you know, we’ve got an unelected bureaucrat who likes to pretend that she’s a lawyer, and she’s literally taking away the voters’ choices in Maine.
“You know, here in Maine and across the country, regardless of you know whether they like Donald Trump or not, you know, Bellows is wrong on so many levels, and it’s getting to the point of really being embarrassing.”
Promoted stories
Investructor
Rosamund Pike, 44, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New PhotoInvestructor
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Pushed by Mr Sanchez – who remained patient and amused throughout – to elaborate on the precise nature of his opposition, Mr Stetkis insisted: “Her decision process was just wrong.”
Pressed again, he added: “Well, this has so much more to do with the, you know, the suppression of the vote as opposed to Donald Trump. We would – we would oppose this decision, regardless of what Republican [was running].”
Asked by Mr Sanchez why he considered Ms Bellows’ ruling “arbitrary”, Mr Stetkis continued: “We’re just opposed to her taking away the rights of the voters to be able to choose the leader that they want to vote for or not.”
Boris Sanchez interviews Joel Stetkis on CNN’s News Central
" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/03/11/newFile-1.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/03/11/newFile-1.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/01/03/11/newFile-1.jpg" data-gallery-length="2" class="i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content">
Boris Sanchez interviews Joel Stetkis on CNN’s News Central
(CNN)
Eventually wearying of the anchor’s persistence, the state GOP chair fell back to arguing: “No matter how many times, no matter how you’re asked, her decision is completely wrong.”
He even added that numerous conservative lawyers had already “given plenty of legal argument on why she’s wrong”, implying that it was therefore unnecessary for him to do so.
Finally relenting, Mr Sanchez wrapped up the segment, pointing out that the GOP chair had failed to offer any reasoning for his argument.
“I think there’s a legal argument to be made. It doesn’t seem like you have articulated the exact legal argument and the flaw that you see in her decision,” the CNN anchor said.
“Nevertheless, Joel, we’re grateful to have you and get your perspective. Thank you so much for being with us. And happy new year.”
In announcing her verdict on Mr Trump’s candidacy last week, Ms Bellows wrote: “I am mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment.
“I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.”
She has since reported receiving “threatening communications” from voters loyal to Mr Trump.
More about Donald Trump Republican Party Maine CNN Joe Biden Colorado US election 2024 GOP
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
1Comments
1/ 2Maine GOP chair dodges questions about Trump ballot removal
Maine GOP chair dodges questions about Trump ballot removal
Boris Sanchez interviews Joel Stetkis on CNN’s News Central
CNN
Maine GOP chair dodges questions about Trump ballot removal
Boris Sanchez interviews Joel Stetkis on CNN’s News Central
CNN
opti
opti - the platform for the eye optics industryFrom January 12th to 14th, 2024, opti sets the trends as the first order fair of the year. The international trade show for optics & design delivers a knowledge edge in optics and brings together decision-makers from the industry. opti| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
HotPopToday
Pawn Star Pleads Guilty, Goodbye Pawn Stars :(Fans were surprised to hear this about their favorite pawn star...HotPopToday| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
WomenTales.com
Nadia Comaneci Confirms the Rumors.WomenTales.com| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
StreetInsider.com
They Found This Deep In The Ocean, It's Worrying ScientistsStreetInsider.com| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in