Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) has responded to Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ (D) decision to block former President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot, arguing that the GOP presidential frontrunner should be allowed on the ballot until he is actually found guilty of “insurrection.”

The Maine secretary of state’s decision came after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was ineligible for the state ballot. Neither of these decisions was in response to any legal process that gave Trump and his attorneys the right to defend him against the allegations. Instead, the decisions were made based on the opinion of the people making the ruling, all of whom are Democrats and vehemently anti-Trump.

Bellows declared in her decision that evidence showed “the falsity of Mr. Trump’s declaration that he meets the qualifications of the office of the presidency,” and she argued “that the primary petition of Mr. Trump is invalid.”

However, just like the Colorado Supreme Court, Bellows suspended the impact of her decision “until the Superior Court rules on any appeal, or the time to appeal… has expired.”

Trump’s legal team has already vowed to appeal the decision, just as they have in Colorado, with Trump campaign spokesperson releasing a statement that read: “We will quickly file a legal objection in state court to prevent this atrocious decision in Maine from taking effect, and President Trump will never stop fighting to Make America Great Again.”

Golden released a statement in response to the decision, condemning the secretary of state’s ruling while continuing to push the disproven claim that Trump engaged in an “insurrection.”

“I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection. 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,” he wrote in the statement, which was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

My statement on the Maine Secretary of State's ruling: pic.twitter.com/ByO3XJe1JS

— Congressman Jared Golden (@RepGolden) December 29, 2023

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) also condemned the decision, arguing that Bellows is denying Maine residents their right to decide for themselves who wins the election.

“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,” her official X account wrote in a post.

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.

— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) December 29, 2023

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) also spoke out about Bellows’ decision, putting forth the argument that the 14th Amendment argument that the left has been using to try to disqualify Trump does not apply to him as a president.

“Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ignores the fact that, for purposes of Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, Trump was not ‘an officer of the United States.’ Thus, even if Trump had engaged in insurrection (to be sure, he has not), he still couldn’t be excluded,” Lee wrote.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ignores the fact that, for purposes of Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, Trump was not “an officer of the United States.”

Thus, even if Trump had engaged in insurrection (to be sure, he has not), he still couldn’t be excluded. https://t.co/qxRffgoeUL

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 29, 2023