Appearing on CNN on Friday morning, former Republican Maine State Senator Tom Saviello made the case that his state has every right to keep Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot because there is no doubt he was responsible for the riot at the Capitol.
Speaking with host Phil Mattingly, the Maine Republican said the case in his state is different than the Colorado situation where the state Supreme Court made the determination before the move was made.
"He's not been criminally charged nor convicted of insurrection, what do you say to those who argue that?" the CNN host pressed.
"Well, if you read the 14th Amendment it doesn't say anything about convicted. it just says it created an insurrection against the state," Savielleo shot back. "That's why I don't believe we need to have a conviction to go forward."
Building on that point he added, "I think ultimately, the ultimate decision will be made by the U.S. Supreme Court, but I think we have to have a placeholder out there."
"I believe in our state our statutes allow us to do this because we charged the secretary of state," he added. "That is probably one of the big differences in Maine. All the other cases have gone to court, ours is not in court. It's in front of our Maine secretary of state and that's a huge difference. She could make a decision and then move forward into the courts. At the end of the day, I really do believe that the U.S. Supreme Court will make the final decision."
Watch below or at the link.
CNN 12 22 2023 07 34 55youtu.be
