Trump team applauds deferral of Maine 14th Amendment case

Former President Donald Trump's team on Wednesday celebrated the decision of a Maine judge to defer judgement of a case addressing his eligibility to appear on the state ballot under the 14th Amendment until the Supreme Court rules on a similar case.

"Today, Maine's Superior Court ruled to keep President Trump’s name on the ballot, pending a decision from the Supreme Court of the United States in the Colorado case. This is a correct action, and we remain steadfast in our opposition to these bad-faith shams," Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said. "President Trump is confident that we will ultimately prevail with a fair ruling on the issues in front of the Supreme Court. In states across the country, Crooked Joe Biden and his Democrat apparatchiks, through Soros-funded front groups, have weaponized the institutions of government to interfere in the upcoming election and disenfranchise over a hundred million voters."

"The Democrats are desperate to cling to power by any means necessary. We will not stop fighting the remaining bogus, bad-faith 14th Amendment ballot challenges and President Trump looks forward to winning the state of Maine later this year, being re-elected in November, and he will Make America Great Again," he added.

The Supreme Court in January agreed to hear Trump's appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to kick him off the ballot, determining that he his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot had disqualified him from seeking the presidency under the 14th Amendment's "insurrection" provision. Oral arguments are scheduled for Feb. 8. Trump had also challenged the decision of Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to remove him on similar grounds, resulting in Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy's deferral on Wednesday. 

"Put simply, the United States Supreme Court’s acceptance of the Colorado case changes everything about the order in which these issues should be decided, and by which court," she wrote in the ruling. Bellows had initially paused her order to allow for Trump's appeal. Likewise, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold confirmed that the court's decision to take the case meant she would include Trump on the Colorado GOP primary ballot.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.