March Trip for Women’s History Month Event
Meeting President Biden
Secretary of State Jenna Bellows recently made headlines after it was revealed that she has made multiple trips to the White House. Her first trip came in March when she attended a Women’s History Month event. During the event, she had the opportunity to meet President Biden and even snapped a photo with him.
In a post on Facebook, Bellows described the experience as “amazing” and expressed her gratitude for being able to celebrate Women’s History Month with the president and other female leaders from across the country.
June Trip Organized by Crosspartisan Political Reform Group
Meeting with Special Assistant to Biden
Bellows’ second trip to the White House occurred in June, where she joined a group of more than a dozen individuals to meet with Justin Vail, a special assistant to President Biden. Social media posts by others who were on the trip indicate that it was organized by a crosspartisan political reform group.
During the trip, Bellows and the group discussed issues related to protecting election workers and critical election infrastructure. Bellows emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration in addressing these issues.
Bellows’ Efforts as Secretary of State
Advocating for Voting Rights
As Secretary of State for Maine, Bellows has been a vocal advocate for voting rights. In an op-ed for the Democracy Docket, she highlighted her efforts to make voting more accessible and expressed her concerns about the state of democracy following the 2020 presidential election.
Bellows also criticized the Electoral College, describing it as a relic of white supremacy that hinders fair representation of voters.
Ruling to Disqualify Trump from State Ballot
Citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment
In a controversial move, Bellows recently ruled to disqualify former President Trump from Maine’s 2024 ballot. She cited Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals who have engaged in insurrection from holding elected office without congressional approval.
This decision aligns with a ruling by the Colorado’s highest court to bar Trump from that state’s primary ballot. The matter may now be taken to the U.S. Supreme Court for further deliberation.
Backlash and Defense of Decision
Reactions from Republicans and Democrats
Bellows’ decision to remove Trump from the state ballot has received backlash from both Republicans and Democrats. Some argue that until Trump is found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.
In response to criticism, Bellows defended her move, stating that she carefully reviewed Section 3 of the 14th Amendment and determined that Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021, constituted an insurrection. She believes that her decision is in line with upholding the rule of law.
Fox News’ Houston Keene and Liz Elkind contributed to this report.