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As one of the voters who challenged Donald Trump’s eligibility for the Maine ballot, I am writing to respond to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ comments about Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ decision. Collins stated that voters should decide. But voters do not have the right to vote for someone who as president violated his presidential oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution. Unless she regards that oath as meaningless, which I think would make the oath she took meaningless. John Bingham in his speech on the floor of the House in 1866 spoke to the importance of oaths and warned of future reoccurrences if the 14th Amendment was not passed.
And indeed I think she had failed to support the Constitution by declaring that an individual who as president provided aid and comfort to the enemies of the Constitution of the United States should be allowed access to Maine’s ballot. Bellows, however, demonstrated that the oath she took to support the U.S. Constitution is meaningful and that it is her duty to act in accordance with that oath.
Mary Royal
Winterport
