Dem official could face GOP impeachment for refusing to cooperate with ICE

Maine Republican legislators are calling to impeach Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows for refusing to assist an Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge last month.

Bellows temporarily paused the issuance of undercover license plates while ICE agents carried out President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, and the Midcoast Villager obtained a letter from GOP legislative leaders to their Democratic counterparts threatening to punish her.

Republican leaders are requesting "all measures to hold the Secretary accountable for her actions including, but not limited to, the establishment of a special investigative committee or impeachment proceedings," the letter stated.

“This unilateral decision will put law enforcement and the public in danger,” wrote Republican Senate Leader Trey Stewart and House Leader Billy-Bob Faulkingham, along with their deputies, in the Jan. 21 letter. “The Secretary has made it clear: Her actions serve only to make federal law enforcement officers — regardless of agency or mission — easily identifiable for the purpose of disrupting their lawful operations.”

If Republicans follow through on that move, Bellows would be the first statewide Democratic elected official to face an impeachment for opposing Trump and his policies during his second term.

The secretary of state announced that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles she oversees would stop issuing new new confidential license plates, which are used on undercover law enforcement vehicles, after ICE asked for them before agents surged into the state, and Republicans accused her of hindering law enforcement.

Bellows, who is a candidate in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, told reporters this week that she was personally harassed over the decision after her home address and cell phone number were posted online, and she was previously swatted over her 2023 move to disqualify Trump from the Maine GOP presidential primary ballot due to his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

All statewide constitutional officers, such as secretary of state, are elected by the legislature in Maine.

Bellows has served in her role since December 2020 and was previously the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2014, but ultimately lost to Republican Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).