Donald Trump's Presidential Hopes Dealt Another Blow By Second State

Donald Trump's ambitions for reelection continue on the road of uncertainty as a second state delivers a blow to the former President's hopes for a political comeback.

Despite the challenges facing Trump, the potential for his comeback has Hunter Biden considering plans to retreat.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows dealt a significant blow to the businessman's political hopes, ruling him ineligible for the state's primary ballot.

The decision, made on December 28, stemmed from three administrative challenges based on Maine's election laws and followed a thorough evaluation of arguments presented by both challengers and Trump's legal team.

Bellows' ruling contended that Trump's involvement in the January 6 attack on the Capitol warranted his removal from Maine's primary presidential ballot. She emphasized:

"The record establishes that Mr. Trump, over several months and culminating on January 6, 2021, used a false narrative of election fraud to inflame his supporters and direct them to the Capitol to prevent certification of the 2020 election and the peaceful transfer of power."

Highlighting Trump's awareness of the potential for violence, Bellows noted, "he both encouraged it with incendiary rhetoric and took no timely action to stop it." In a written statement, she partly expressed the gravity of her decision:

"I do not reach this conclusion lightly. Democracy is sacred… 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." 

However, she balanced her resolution with the unprecedented circumstances surrounding a presidential candidate engaging in insurrection. She then asserted her commitment to upholding the Constitution, stating:

"The oath I swore to uphold the Constitution comes first above all, and my duty under Maine's election laws, when presented with a Section 336 challenge, is to ensure that candidates who appear on the primary ballot are qualified for the office they seek."

Despite the ruling, Trump still has the option to appeal the decision in Maine Superior Court within five days. This unprecedented move made Maine the second state, after Colorado, to bar the 77-year-old from its ballot.

The Colorado Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, reportedly invoked Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, disqualifying Trump from the presidential ballot. The court asserted:

"A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution."

Consequently, the tribunal pointed out that listing him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot would be deemed a wrongful act under the Election Code.

This marks the first instance in history where a presidential candidate has been disqualified under Section Three of the 14th Amendment. The decision comes in the wake of controversy surrounding Trump's alleged incitement of the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.

However, the Colorado Supreme Court has temporarily stayed its decision, awaiting a potentially historic ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. This reversal of a district court judge's decision acknowledged Trump's role in the Capitol attack but questioned the application of disqualification to the presidency. 

As the specter of Trump's potential reelection looms, the son of President Joe Biden was reportedly thinking of fleeing the country. The 53-year-old confided in friends, expressing concerns over the intensified scrutiny he anticipates during the upcoming election campaign.

In a podcast addressing the personal attacks, Biden stated, "What they're trying to do is they're trying to kill me, knowing that it will be a pain greater than my father could be able to handle — and so, therefore, destroying a presidency in that way." 

Hunter claimed to be a target of "deeply personal political attacks" that escalated with Republicans alleging corruption during his father's tenure as Vice President. 

Facing legal challenges on multiple fronts, Hunter is expected to stand trial in Delaware on gun charges and in California on tax charges. If convicted, he could potentially face up to 20 years in prison for a series of felonies and misdemeanors.

According to confidential sources close to the President, the 81-year-old shares his son's apprehensions, particularly given his history of battling alcohol and drug abuse. 

"You can see it in his eyes, and you can see his shoulders slump. He's so worried about Hunter. And we're worried it could consume him," an insider revealed.