School chief who blamed attack on Trump doubles down

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A school superintendent who drew the wrath of the Maine Republican Party for linking a hate crime with President Donald Trump's administration said Monday that he stands by his statements.

Maine GOP has said Portland Public Schools Superintendent Xavier Botana created a hostile political environment in the city's public schools in the wake of the Jan. 27 attack on several black students.

Maine GOP has accused Botana of forcing students to "give up taxpayer-funded school time to engage in a partisan agenda promoted by school district officials."