Ex-Congressman Who Voted to Impeach Trump Slams Kicking Him Off Ballot

Former Representative Justin Amash, who voted to impeach Donald Trump in 2019, criticized Maine's decision to kick the former president off the primary ballot, calling it "insane."

On Thursday, Maine Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows decided to bar Trump from the state's ballot in the 2024 presidential primary, concluding that he was involved in an insurrection regarding to his actions surrounding the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

"The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government," Bellows wrote in her ruling.

Trump is the front-runner for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race. Despite a slew of criminal charges, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to, he has maintained a loyal base of voters.

Amash, a Libertarian who served Michigan's 3rd Congressional District from 2011 to 2021, spoke out against Bellows' decision in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"The unilateral decision of Maine's secretary of state to disqualify Donald Trump from the ballot is insane, reckless, and indefensible," Amash wrote on Thursday night. "It's another example of extraconstitutional decision-making that doesn't come close to meeting any legitimate standard of due process of law."

Newsweek reached out to Amash, Trump's spokesperson and Bellows' office via email for comment.

Bellows' decision can be appealed to a state Superior Court. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said a legal objection will be "quickly" filed and called the decision a "hostile assault on American democracy."

Amash was originally a Republican but left the GOP and became an independent in July 2019. He joined the Libertarian Party in April 2020.

As an independent, in December 2019, Amash voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, stemming from Trump's actions during his 2020 reelection campaign. The impeachment vote in the House was successful, but Trump was later acquitted by the Senate.

Maine is the second state to bar Trump from the primary ballot, joining Colorado, which did so this month. The Colorado Supreme Court said Trump's actions during the Capitol riot amounted to engaging in an insurrection and, under the 14th Amendment, those found to be involved in an insurrection cannot hold federal office again.

Amash also found the Colorado Supreme Court's decision disturbing, writing on X at the time that its opinion is "shameful and runs completely counter to our constitutional system."

"Donald Trump was not removed from office by Congress for engaging in insurrection. Donald Trump has not been criminally convicted in a court of law of engaging in insurrection. Whatever you believe about whether Donald Trump engaged in insurrection has no bearing on whether he's eligible to run for president," Amash wrote.

"No legislative, executive, or judicial body of a state should engage in extraconstitutional decision-making to disqualify a federal candidate from the ballot. This isn't accountability; it's an assault on due process of law. It undermines our electoral system and threatens every federal candidate for office."

Cheung said at the time that Trump would appeal the Colorado Supreme Court's "completely flawed" decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

On January 6, 2021, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., as Congress was attempting to certify Biden's 2020 win. The riot erupted following unsubstantiated claims made by Trump that the election was stolen from him via widespread voter fraud.

The Justice Department indicted Trump in August on four federal felony counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights, all regarding his actions surrounding the Capitol riot.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has claimed that the case is politically motivated.