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Tesla sales rebound after steep price cuts

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Tesla sales rose in the last three months of 2023, after the automaker cut prices and customers rushed to take advantage of tax incentives for electric vehicles — something that will be hard to come by in 2024.

Company said on Tuesday It sold 484,500 cars in the fourth quarter, compared to 435,000 in the third quarter and 405,000 in the fourth quarter of 2022. Tesla sold 1.8 million vehicles for the full year. These gains put Tesla on track to sell more than two million cars by 2024, overtaking established carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz and Renault.

A rebound in sales in the fourth quarter should help calm investor concerns about whether Tesla can maintain its dominance in the market for electric vehicles in the face of increasing competition from traditional carmakers.

In the past year, Tesla has lost market share to rivals such as General Motors, Hyundai, Ford Motor and Volkswagen as they introduced more electric vehicles. Tesla accounts for half of the electric cars sold in the US. By 2022, Tesla will have two-thirds of the market.

Rivian, another electric vehicle maker, said on Tuesday it sold nearly 14,000 vehicles in the last three months of the year. That number is up significantly from a year ago, but down about 10 percent from the third quarter.

In China, the largest market for electric cars, Tesla faces stiff competition from BYD and other Chinese automakers. BYD sold 526,000 fully electric cars worldwide in the fourth quarter, surpassing Tesla, a milestone many auto analysts had hoped for given the Chinese company's rapid growth.

Chinese automakers have moved quickly to offer a wide range of affordable electric models as the market expands beyond early adopters of the technology. They are the main customers who have bought Teslas for as long as the company has existed.

“Customers buying EVs now are second-time adopters with fundamentally different needs,” said Shai Natarajan, a partner at Mobility Impact Partners, a private equity fund focused on investing in sustainable transportation. “They care about tangible and immediately tangible decreases in total cost of ownership, and they care about convenience.”

In Europe, Volkswagen and its Audi and Skoda divisions sell more electric vehicles than Tesla, although the Tesla Model Y remains the best-selling model on the continent, according to data compiled by Schmidt Automotive Research.

In the United States, those interested in buying an electric car had a strong incentive to take delivery by the end of the year because of new rules aimed at cutting China out of the supply chain.

Tesla has warned on its website that the two lowest-priced versions of its Model 3 sedan will no longer qualify for $7,500 in federal tax credits after Dec. 31. These cars have batteries made in China. Germany and some European countries have also withdrawn subsidies for electric vehicle buyers.

To keep up sales, Tesla slashed prices, listing Model 3s on its website for less than $30,000, factoring in tax credits. By late December, the number of low-cost cars listed on the website appeared to have dropped, indicating that the strategy was successful. But the price cuts cut into Tesla profits, which fell 44 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier.

Tesla said it will announce earnings for the fourth quarter of 2023 on January 24.

While fewer Teslas will qualify for federal tax credits in 2024, the company is in a better position than most of its competitors. All versions of the Model Y sport utility vehicle, including a performance version of the Model 3 that includes upgraded wheels and brakes, will be eligible for the subsidy. A central government website. Tesla manufactures the batteries for those cars at a Nevada plant operated by Panasonic, allowing it to meet domestic production needs.

That gives Tesla a significant advantage over rivals like Ford, which has said its Mustang Mach-E sport utility vehicle won't qualify for the credit in the new year.

Ford and others rely on manufacturers in China for key components. Ford is building battery factories in the U.S., but they won't start production until 2025.

General Motors has been making batteries at a new factory in Ohio, but has struggled to keep the plant running at full capacity. GM said in December that initially only the Chevrolet Bolt would qualify for the tax breaks. The Cadillac Lyric and electric Chevrolet Blazer no longer qualify.

GM has said it will adjust its supply chain so that those and other vehicles, including electric versions of the Chevrolet Silverado pickup and Equinox sport utility vehicle, will be eligible by early this year.

Tesla and other carmakers could also benefit from lower interest rates in the new year. Investors are betting that the Federal Reserve and other central banks will start cutting rates as inflation cools.

A Japan Airlines flight caught fire after crashing into a Coast Guard aircraft

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A Japan Airlines flight caught fire after crashing into a Coast Guard aircraft

'Beverly Hills, 90210' star Ian Gearing attacked by Los Angeles bikers

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Ian Gearing, star Beverly Hills, 90210They were apparently involved in a roadside altercation in Hollywood on New Year's Eve.


A Video obtained by TMZ, the actor appears to be pushing a mini-bike rider down Hollywood Boulevard, zipping through a crowd of bikers near his SUV. Several bikers quickly jump to attack Zeering, and the actor appears to tackle one of them to the ground before being chased across the street by several helmeted assailants.


Representatives for Ziering and the LAPD did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment.


Paul Archuleta/Ketti


Gearing appears to land several blows on the bikers during the fight, and scores several hits.


LAPD confirmed to KTLA Officers responded to an incident near the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue around 3:00 pm Sunday for “reports of an altercation involving a group of bikers driving recklessly.”


TMZ also reported that Syring's car may have been hit by one of the bikes, which may have triggered the incident. The actor's 12-year-old daughter Mia was riding in his car with Ziering. According to TMZ. The outlet reported that law enforcement officials took an official report listing Ziering as a victim, but no arrests have been made.


Ziering responded to the incident on Instagram. “This situation highlights a huge problem of hooliganism on our streets and the need for effective law enforcement responses to such behavior. As a citizen and as a parent, as a citizen and as a parent, we cannot accept that groups freely engage in such behavior to cause fear and confusion. , the response of the authorities has been inadequate. It seems,” said Ziering.



“I have always been an advocate for standing up against bullying and misbehavior, and this incident reinforces my belief in the importance of personal and community safety,” he continued. “We must address the underlying issues that lead to such disruptive behavior and ensure our streets are safe for all. City officials and law enforcement must take decisive action against such lawlessness and provide the necessary resources to prevent future occurrences.”


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Chinese factory activity declines in December for 3rd consecutive monthly contraction

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A survey of factory managers in China showed output contracted in December, the latest sign of a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.

The official Purchasing Managers' Index, or PMI, fell to 49 last month, which officials said was evidence of weak demand, the Office for National Statistics said on Sunday. This is the third consecutive month of contraction. The PMI is on a scale of 100, where 50 represents the cutoff between expansion and contraction.

The index has fallen in eight of the past nine months, rising only in September. In November, the index stood at 49.4, up from 49.5 in the previous month.

Despite unexpectedly lingering weakness after the pandemic, China's economy grew at a 5.2% pace in the first three quarters of the year and showed signs of improvement in November with rising factory output and retail sales.

In recent months, the government has boosted spending on building ports and other infrastructure, cut interest rates and eased restrictions on home purchases to spur domestic demand, which economists say is needed to sustain growth.

In his New Year's address, President Xi Jinping said China had made a “smooth transition” from the country's response to the pandemic, which has sometimes involved shutting down factories and parts of regions or entire cities.

China's economy has “become more resilient and dynamic than before,” Xi said in remarks carried by the official Xinhua news agency.

Global demand for manufactured goods has been hit as central banks around the world have raised interest rates to combat decades of high inflation. Price pressures have eased in recent months, but demand has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. It has regional reach as supply chains linked to China are scattered across several Asian countries.

Reliance on exports to fuel growth in China means more competition as the government invests in more industrial construction, Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary. “The manufacturing sector's biggest constraint is not access to capital but weak demand, so expanding manufacturing investment means expanding overcapacity,” he noted.

China's non-manufacturing PMI rose to 50.4 in December, the Bureau of Statistics said. The services sector's PMI sub-index was 49.3, however, unchanged from November's level.

Despite a slump in the housing market due to measures to curb excessive borrowing by property developers, the construction industry is thriving: The sub-index for that sector rose to 56.9 in December, in expansion territory, from 55 in November, the report said. said.

Chief Justice Roberts Wary of Artificial Intelligence in Courts: NPR

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United States Chief Justice John Roberts is shown joining other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at the Supreme Court building in Washington.

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United States Chief Justice John Roberts is shown joining other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at the Supreme Court building in Washington.

J. Scott Applewhite/AP

WASHINGTON — Chief Justice John Roberts turned his attention Sunday to the promise and shortcomings of artificial intelligence in the federal courts in an annual report that made no mention of Supreme Court ethics or legal controversies involving Donald Trump.

Describing artificial intelligence as the “latest technological frontier,” Roberts discussed the pros and cons of computer-generated content in the legal profession. His comments come days after the latest case of AI-generated fake legal citations in official court records, in a case involving former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.

“Always a bad idea,” Roberts wrote in his year-end report, “any use of AI requires caution and humility.”

At the same time, the Chief Justice acknowledged that AI would make it much easier for people who don't have a lot of money to access the courts. “These tools have the welcome potential to soften any mismatch between available resources and urgent needs in our court system,” Roberts wrote.

The report comes at the end of a year in which a series of stories have been questioned Ethical practices of judges And the court responded to critics by adopting its first code of conduct. Most of those stories failed to disclose travel, other hospitality and additional financial ties to Justices Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crowe and wealthy conservative donors. The Koch brothers. But Justices Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor are also under scrutiny.

The country is entering the start of an election year that looks set to entangle the court in one way or another in the ongoing criminal cases against Trump and efforts to disqualify the former Republican president from the 2024 ballot.

Roberts, along with his eight colleagues, does not discuss cases that are or may come before the Supreme Court. In past statements, he has advocated for improved security and pay raises for federal judges, praised judges and their assistants for handling the coronavirus pandemic and highlighted other aspects of technology changes in the courts.

Roberts once famously compared umpires to umpires who call balls and strikes but don't make the rules. In his latest statement, he turned to a different sport, tennis, to make the point that technology won't replace umpires anytime soon.

In many tennis matches, optical technology, rather than human line umpires, now “determines whether a 130-mile-per-hour serve is in or out. These decisions are accurate to the millimeter. And there is no choice; the ball is hit or not. In contrast, legal decisions are often gray areas. inclusive, they must still use human judgment,” Roberts wrote.

Anticipating the growing use of artificial intelligence in the courts, Roberts wrote: “I predict that human judges will be around for a while. But I predict that judicial work — especially at the trial level — will be significantly affected by AI.”

Powerball topped $810 million with no jackpot winner on Saturday

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The next Powerball drawing is Jan. 1 will be held on Monday.

The Powerball jackpot has risen to an estimated $810 million due to no wins in Saturday night's drawing, Powerball said.

According to the lottery, the estimated cash value for the next drawing on Monday, January 1 is $408.9 million.

The winning numbers for Saturday's $760 million jackpot are: 10, 11, 26, 27, 34 and a red Powerball 7. Power Play 4.

The estimated cash value of the prize is $383.6 million. If a player wins the jackpot in Saturday night's drawing, they will be given a choice between annual payouts worth $760 million — an immediate payout and the remaining payouts over 29 years that increase by 5% each year — or an estimated total of $383.6 million.

Saturday's drawing marked the last drawing for 2023.

There have been 34 consecutive draws without a jackpot winner. The last Powerball jackpot was won on October 11.

This is the fourth jackpot prize to exceed $500 million this year. This year's biggest jackpot prize of $1.765 billion was won in California on October 11. The second-biggest prize, $1.08 billion, was won in California on July 19, Powerball said.

Powerball tickets are sold for $2 each.

The odds of winning the jackpot prize are one in 292.2 million.

The game's biggest prize — $2.04 billion — was won on November 7, 2022.

Jeremy Renner almost died last New Year's Day. Since then, he has been leaning towards life

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Jeremy Renner speaks on stage during the world premiere of the Disney+ original series “Rennervations” at Westwood Regency Village Theater on April 11, 2023 in Los Angeles.



CNN

Ever since Jeremy Renner nearly lost his life in a New Year's Day accident, the Marvel star has proven himself a superhero offscreen.

The “Avengers” actor is on New Year's Day 2023 Crushed near his Nevada home While trying to stop the snow removal tractor, his teenage son-in-law skidded and hit him.

Renner broke several bones in the accident

His doctor said at the time that Renner was indeed close to death came within millimeters of hitting a vital organ or vital nerve.

Since that traumatic time, Renner seems to have taken advantage of his second chance.

He recently confirmed that a new album is coming out. Earlier this month, he shared what appeared to be an album cover titled “Wait.” His InstagramAnd in the title he described it as “a new musical diary – life, death, recovery, all learned along the way”.

When he announced the plan back in October, he said on Instagram It was “painful, deeply healing, and ultimately quickening for me to create. I hope I find the courage to share it with all of you.”

The album is set to be released on January 1, the one-year anniversary of his near-death accident.

It's the latest way the “Hawkeye” star is celebrating her recovery — something she happily shared with her millions of followers.

November, She posted a video of her workout, “Today marks the day 10 months have been redeemed.”

The clip showed the actor jumping down a hill and running back up – marking considerable progress since he learned to walk again earlier this year.

In another post In November, Renner said, “I've been exploring every type of therapy since January 14th … daily, countless hours of physical therapy, peptide injections, iv drips and pushes, stem cell and exosomes, red light/IR therapy, hyperbaric chamber 2.0 atmospheres. , cold falls, And the list goes on…”

“But my greatest cure is that my mind and will are here, and to heal and be better. Be the exception… I feel it is my duty to do so,” he wrote. “Not to waste my life, but to save my family, friends and I thank you all for giving back to all of you who have empowered me to endure.

Not that Renner has stopped working entirely.

In addition to promoting his Sweet Cross Vodka, Renner also promoted his Disney+ series.Reorganizations” This year, it was filmed before his accident.

On Friday, his “Mayor of Kingstown” costar Emma Laird signaled that she might return to work on the series.

She posted a photo of them together on her Instagram stories with the caption, “This is happening. I'll be with my favorite guy next week.

CNN has reached out to Paramount+, the company behind “Kingstown,” for comment.

If that wasn't enough, Renner will also be in New York City on New Year's Eve to help ring in 2024 for CNN.New Years Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen.”

With all these projects and the amazing strides he's made in the past year, the actor and musician is sure to spend New Year's Day 2024 truly grateful for how far he's come.

Eurostar services resume after major disruption

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  • By Harrison Jones
  • BBC News

Eurostar said it would resume all services to London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam on Sunday following a day of major disruption.

New Year's plans for thousands were dashed after flooding in a tunnel under the River Thames led to the cancellation of all Eurostar services between London and Paris on Saturday.

Eurostar warned Sunday could see further delays but services have resumed.

Southeastern, which has canceled high-speed services to Ebbsfleet on Saturday, will operate a reduced service on the route on Sunday as it uses the same route as Eurostar.

And the Met Office has warned that domestic travel could be disrupted this weekend as wind and rain sweep across the UK. A yellow weather warning for wind is in place for the south coast of England, south-west England and south Wales from 10:00 GMT until midnight.

In Scotland, ScotRail said it expected disruption due to bad weather, including speed restrictions.

The first Eurostar train left London a few minutes late at 08:10 GMT.

On Sunday morning, Eurostar said: “Flooding in the Thames Tunnels has been brought under control by Network Rail High Speed.

“There will be some speed restrictions this morning which will lead to delays and stations are expected to be very busy.”

Travelers on Saturday faced expensive hotel bills, significant difficulties in reaching their destination or expensive airfares. The Port of Dover said on Saturday that it had no foot passengers in stock for the day.

Richard Thorpe, director of engineering at HS1, which operates the line, apologized to customers saying he knew the disruption to travel plans was “disastrous” but said things were “very positive” on Sunday.

He told the BBC that water had been removed from both tunnels and that as many trains and people as possible were being moved.

The unprecedented amount of water overwhelmed pumping systems and caused flooding, he said.

Stories emerge from travelers facing difficult situations on both sides of The Channel.

A pregnant woman from Norwich said she was “crying for about an hour” after being stranded in Paris.

Ella Cattier, her four-year-old son Xander and his father were due to return to the UK after a break at Disneyland Paris.

image caption,

Many passengers sat at St Pancras International on Saturday waiting for news

He told the BBC on Saturday morning that the scene at Gare du Nord station was chaotic and that no help was available for affected passengers.

Ms Cattier, who is 33 weeks pregnant, said the next train was on January 3 – the day she had to return to work – and hotels and transfers were unaffordable.

“No trains, no boats, no hotels”, she said.

“I don't have £1,200 a night to stay in Paris. I can't get a train or connections to Amsterdam and back to England.

“Plus, I don't know if they'll let me fly at this point in the pregnancy.”

image caption,

Megan Downes and her young son on the train to the airport in Paris after their Eurostar service was cancelled

Curt Downs, his wife Megan and their one-year-old son were trapped in the Carre du Nord.

“The Eurostar staff there are completely frustrated and can't recommend anything to us,” he told BBC News.

A staff member said there were 4,000 passengers to help, Mr Downs said.

He said the family spent two hours trying to find a way back to the UK, searching for ferries, car hire and flights.

They managed to get some of the last seats on the £450 flight from Paris to Manchester, from where Mrs Downes' mother made the five-hour round trip to take them to Bedfordshire.

Meanwhile, at London's congested St Pancras station, emotional passengers sat on suitcases and frantically tried to find alternative routes.

Christina David, 25, and Georgina Benjamin, 26, from Sydney, found their train canceled after traveling around Europe on a budget for three weeks.

They planned to “go hard” to their final stop in Paris – where they hoped to ring in the New Year in an expensive hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower before flying home.

Ms Benjamin said she wanted to see Paris “light up” but now felt frustrated and angry.

“A lot of people were crying,” said her friend Ms David. “We don't know where to go, we have nowhere to stay.”

video title,

This video shows the extent of flooding inside the tunnel

A video taken inside the flooded tunnel shows water pouring down the tracks from a pipe attached to the wall of the tunnel.

Thames Water previously said a “fire-fighting system” may have caused the flooding. But HS1 said the source of the flooding would be investigated, but at this stage there was “no evidence to suggest that the fire control system was in any way related to the problem”.

It said the flooding was being “resolved” and the route would remain operational, but speed restrictions and delays and disruptions were expected.

“We understand how frustrating this has been for passengers and apologize for the inconvenience caused at such an important time of year,” a spokesman said.

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Georgia set the FBS record for most wins by defeating Florida State in the Orange Bowl

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Within a year, Georgia set the FBS bowl record by margin of victory twice.

Georgia blanked Florida State 63-3 in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, restoring its previous Jan. 9, 2023 set the FBS bowl record by margin of victory against TCU (65-7) in last season's College Football Playoff championship game.

After a turnover on its first possession, Georgia rallied to score touchdowns on its next nine drives. Florida State had just one field goal early in the second quarter.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck posted 203 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Kendall Milton added 104 yards and two scores on the ground, while Dominique Lovett, Anthony Evans III, Arian Smith and Lawson Lackey all had TDs.

FSU QB Brock Glenn, in his bid to turn this one starting cameo into a regular gig in 2024, completed 9 of 26 passes for 139. yards and two interceptions. He lost 9 yards on the ground.

As a team, Georgia racked up 673 total yards, the most ever accumulated in an Orange Bowl game.

In the third quarter, Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart pulled the peck and diverted it to his second stringers. This was a luxury that Florida State did not have.

The Seminoles were spread thin, with nine players not choosing to prepare for the NFL draft, two unavailable due to injury and more than a dozen entering the transfer portal. Among the departures were star WR Keon Coleman, WR Johnny Wilson, RB Trey Benson, DE Jaheim Bell, defensive tackles Jared Wers and Fabian Lovett, and defensive tackles Renardo Green, Jarian Jones and Akeem Dent.

Star QB Jordan Travis, who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting, suffered a season-ending leg injury on Nov. 18 against North Alabama. Tate Roedmaker, who took over under center after Travis' injury, entered the transfer portal before the Orange Bowl.

However, Georgia has no healthy players left. Tight end Brock Bowers, right tackle Amarius Mims and inside linebacker Smail Monton were out with injuries.

Georgia's dominance is a reflection of its culture

It's about Florida State's deviations, it's about Georgia's culture. The team had no injury-free departures and took this game seriously. That preceded Georgia's only bowl loss under Smart to Texas in the Sugar Bowl to end the 2018 season. Smart had players on the portal stick around the team, including Justin Fields, and it was generally clear that the team was underinvested a year after making the national championship game. The Bulldogs are 3-0 in their non-playoff bowl games since then.

Of course it's not just because of Smarts' attitude, but because of the leadership of the individual players. Cedric von Braun-Granger, moving Milton and others will change tactics. But the established culture appears to be very strong. — Seth Emerson, Georgia Senior Writer

Go deeper

Georgia's Mike Bobo has something to prove after the pressure and SEC championship

Take a bow, Milton

It's a happy ending for players like Milton, who have battled injuries for the past four years. It was an optimistic look at players who will be in bigger roles next year, such as receiver Dillon Bell (five catches for 86 yards).

Georgia also got a big game from Michael Williams (a sack and a forced fumble), who played in his new role at outside linebacker.

Gunner Stockton, now the No. 2 quarterback, played the entire second half and threw two touchdown passes. Other younger players saw plenty of snaps, including cornerback Daniel Harris, linebacker Raylon Wilson and offensive tackle Monroe Freeling. — Emerson

The Seminoles need to find QB help

Freshman quarterback Glenn was a player the coaching staff was very excited about before Travis and Rodemaker got hurt. But it's hard to imagine coaches believing Glenn is the answer at quarterback going forward.

He had a full arsenal of weapons around him in the ACC Championship Game, and he was completely unprepared in his first collegiate start, completing just 8 of 21 attempts for 55 yards. FSU was missing two starting receivers, a tight end and its leading rusher when it played at Georgia on Saturday — and Glenn didn't play well. He was 8-of-25 for 127 yards, two interceptions and a fumble loss in the fourth quarter, and had only one good throw in the first half when the game was still within reach. It was a 55-yard strike to receiver Kendron Poyter.

Glenn may have more success moving forward in his career, but there's no way the Seminoles are going into 2024 without finding a starter on the transfer portal. Cam Ward and DJ Uyakaleli both visited Tallahassee this month as transfers, and the Seminoles would need to land one of them to take over for Travis in 2024. — Manny Navarro, Florida College Sports Staff Writer

Who really assigned it to FSU?

Maine's Secretary of State Explains Reasons to Block Trump from Primary Vote

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Maine Secretary of State Shanna Bellows says she followed Maine's election law and upheld the U.S. Constitution. Donald Trump was disqualified from his state's presidential primary ballot.

Maine is Second state to ban Trump From the bottom ballot Article 3 of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution — a decision that the Trump campaign will appeal. It is the only state where a challenge to a candidate's eligibility is the responsibility of the Secretary of State rather than the courts first.

CBS News spoke with Bellows shortly after his decision was announced Thursday night.

The interview was limited to a discussion of her judgment and process, leaving questions about potential risks to her safety unanswered. In awareness of Decision of the Colorado Supreme Court A judgment to disqualify Trump from office An appeal is currently pending – Colorado judges voted to ban him Inundated with threats.

“Weighing the weight of the evidence, it is clear that Mr. Trump was aware of Tinder's months-long effort to delegitimize the 2020 election and (he) then chose to light the match,” said Bellows, a Democrat who will be sworn in in 2021.

“The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an attack on the foundations of our government. And Maine's election law requires me to act in response,” he said. “The events of January 6th were unprecedented and tragic. It was an attack not only on the Capitol and government officials, including the former Vice President and members of Congress, but also on the rule of law. … Mr. Trump engaged in that rebellion and, as such, does not deserve to be on the ballot.”

Maine Secretary of State Shanna Bellows

Robert F. Bugatti / AP


Under Maine law, voters can file a petition with the secretary of state with challenges to a candidate's qualifications for office, and then a public hearing is held where the challengers must state their case.

“In Maine, we're very proud of our suffrage. We were First in the nation 2022 with voter participation. And we have a statute that sets me apart from other states that I've looked at,” Bellows said. “My duty under Maine state law is to issue a decision very quickly. I am not permitted under Maine law to wait for the Supreme Court of the United States to intervene in this particular proceeding.”

An appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court's decision is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. If the high court decides to reconsider the case, it could have broader implications for other challenges to Trump's eligibility across the country.

In his conclusion, Bellows acknowledged that it would “soon become invalid,” but “that possibility does not absolve me of my responsibility to act.”

In a statement released Thursday night, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said, “We will quickly file a legal challenge in state court to block the implementation of this draconian decision in Maine.”

“In real time, we are witnessing attempted election fraud and disenfranchisement of the American electorate,” he added.

Bellows: “I take the First Amendment very seriously”

Bellows was sworn in as Secretary of State on January 6, 2021, two days before the attack on the US capital. He previously served two terms in the Maine Senate. He is also the former executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine and the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine.

“I take the Constitution very seriously. I swear to uphold it. I take the First Amendment very seriously,” Bellows said.

Trump has argued that his conduct regarding the 2020 election and the events of January 6th cannot disqualify him from the presidency because his speech is protected by the First Amendment.

But Bellows rejected that argument, saying, “The law is very clear that the First Amendment does not permit incitement to a riot.”

Trump argued that the 14th Amendment did not apply to the presidency, citing an early draft of Article 3 that referred to “the office of the president or vice president.” Deliberately removed to exclude those offices.

Bellows found, however, that the initial draft actually “confirms that the drafters both intended the presidency to be covered by Article Three and considered the presidency an office.” In his conclusion, he points out that it is “incredible that the framers of Article Three chose to exempt the highest office of our government from an amendment that kept Confederates from positions of power.”

During our interview, he emphasized the facts presented during his sentencing testimony and facts Public hearing Held in Maine on December 15, Trump's eligibility faced three challenges filed by registered voters, including three Republicans and a panel of former state senators from the Democratic Party.

Two challengers asserted that Trump was barred from office for sedition, in violation of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. A third challenger introduced an innovative theory, arguing that Trump is barred from re-election under the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which bars presidents from serving more than two terms, because “Trump has publicly stated that he won the 2020 election.”

Bellows ultimately determined that Trump was disqualified under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, but not under the 22nd.

“The parties at trial do not dispute that Mr. Joseph Biden won the 2020 election and that Mr. Donald Trump did not win the 2020 election,” he explained. “Public statements that Mr. Trump won are not factual evidence that Mr. Trump won, and indeed, neither Mr. Trump's counsel nor challengers have made that argument. Therefore, I have ruled that Mr. Trump did not win the 2020 and 22nd elections. For two terms The amendment of the Act on holding higher office is not applicable.”

The Republican primaries for both Maine and Colorado will be held on March 5, known as Super Tuesday. Maine's ballots for military and overseas voters should be ready by Jan. 19. Bellows expects Maine's Supreme Court to rule on or before Jan. 17, pending an appeal of his decision. He suspended his own judgment for five days to allow for that. Such an appeal.

“I am mindful that no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential nominee of access to the ballot by virtue of Section 3,” Bellows said, echoing a line from his ruling. “I also note that no presidential candidate has ever been convicted of sedition under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.”

A potential indictment is propensity

Associated Press reported on Friday Bellows faces an impeachment attempt in Maine's state legislature.

At least one Republican lawmaker has vowed to seek impeachment, the Associated Press reported, but the effort faces long odds in Maine's Democratic-controlled Legislature. According to the Associated Press, state Rep. John Andrews called Bellows' decision “hyper-discrimination in full view.” Andrews said he sent notice to the state Office of Corrections for a joint order to set the wheels in motion before lawmakers return to Augusta next week.

House Republican Speaker Billy Bob Falkingham said there was “bipartisan opposition” to Bellows' ruling and that he had “clearly overstepped his authority.”

“It remains to be seen whether his effort to suppress voters will garner enough Democratic support to remove him from office,” he told The Associated Press. Other representatives on both sides of the aisle have chosen not to support Bellows' decision, with one Democrat telling The Associated Press she believes Trump should remain on the ballot “until he is found guilty of sedition.”

Bellows said Friday he had no comment on the effort.

“Under Maine law, I have not only the authority but the duty to act,” he told The Associated Press. “I will follow the constitution and the rule of law as dictated by the courts,” he added.