Security has removed two men, both Ron Paul supporters, from the Maine Republican Convention.

Mark Finks of Falmouth said his rights were being violated when he was denied a chance to raise “a routine, procedural objection” on the convention floor.

He was an alternate and said he had been moved into a delegate slot, but officials told him he was an alternate and convention rules prohibited him from speaking. Seeing no microphone for people on the floor, he grabbed the microphone in front of the podium.

Finks said he was objecting to rules that prohibited the state from having a national delegation from Maine for Ron Paul.

Scott Kauffman, vice-chairman of the party, said Fink had no credentials to be on the floor.

“He was out of order, he wanted to be a credentialed delegate,” Kauffman said. “The convention chair stated that he was not.”

Julie O’Brien, executive director of the Maine Republican Party, said party officials beefed up security after hearing “threatening tones” from the Paul camp. Paul supporters denied that any threats were made.

She said that the party is complying with national party guidelines.

“We’re just following the rules,” O’Brien said, “and the laws.”

Ken Lindell, who is coordinating the Paul delegates, said the Finks incident was "totally isolated."

"Our delegates have been well behaved," Lindell said. "Things are going smoothly. It boggles my mind that people here were expecting trouble."

Also removed from the convention was Ed Cohen. Cohen said he is running as a write-in candidate against Susan Collins this June.

He said he was a delegate from Waterville. Party officials said he wasn’t.

Kauffman said Cohen is barred from participating in official party events. He could not say why.

Cohen said, “I’m the biggest threat to neo-conservatives. I’m a very powerful person. They’re scared s---less.”