AUGUSTA, Maine — It's a question many states in the country are weighing in courtrooms and state houses. Does the former President's alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection disqualify him from running in 2024?
The decision rests on the interpretation of state law and the third section of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which bars any American from office, who commits insurrection or rebellion.
Attorneys representing the former President argued Friday that since Donald Trump has not been found guilty, he should be treated as innocent. Attorneys went as far as to call the challenge by a coalition of attorneys "election interference."
"People should have the right to vote for him, and the right to not vote for him... he has the right to stand before people to get their votes," Scott Gessler said.
Gessler, a former Secretary of State from Colorado, said most arguments in the 30 states challenging the former President's place on the ballot have no ground.
"These issues have been considered and they've been rejected and they should be rejected here as well," Gessler said.
Ethan Strimling, former mayor of Portland and contributor to NEWS CENTER Maine, is also one of the challengers bringing this argument to the Secretary of State.
"The goal of the day is to present the evidence that makes it clear that Trump was an insurrectionist," Strimling said.
Throughout the afternoon, a video from Jan. 6, 2021, aired. It showed people chanting to storm the Capitol during a rally for the President.
"There is a man running who does not believe in our constitution," Strimling said.
The Secretary of State's Office said it would finish hearing arguments by the end of the day Friday, allowing counterarguments to be submitted by both parties on Monday and Tuesday.
The office told NEWS CENTER Maine a decision will be made on whether Trump will be on the ballot by Friday, Dec. 22.