In a scathing editorial this morning, the Portland Press Herald rounded up the lessons that Senator Susan Collins has learned since her capitulation to Donald Trump in the impeachment trial one week ago.
Trump himself has refuted Senator Collins’ ludicrous claim that he had “learned from this case” and would be “much more cautious in the future” in multiple interviews. And as the president intensifies retaliation for impeachment and bulldozes ethical and legal boundaries at the Department of Justice, it’s clearer than ever that Senator Collins’ refusal to uphold the rule of law has only emboldened Trump to continue his abuses of power.
With just 32 days left until the Republican filing deadline, it’s obvious that Senator Collins is terrified of standing up to the president. She needs to make it official and tell Mainers whether she’ll be supporting Trump’s re-election.
We know:
1) According to CQ, Senator Collins voted with Donald Trump 94% of the time.
2) Senator Collins has been a key vote for Donald Trump on everything from the tax plan that gave corporations and the wealthy trillions in tax breaks to the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh and every one of Trump’s judicial nominees in 2017 and 2018 -- even those “deemed unqualified by the American Bar Association.” Just last week she joined with Mitch McConnell to acquit Trump in the impeachment trial, after voting 12 times against including witnesses and evidence.
3) Donald Trump has said he's 100% behind Senator Collins' reelection.
4) Staffers for the president’s reelection campaign “worked to get her on the ballot” by collecting signatures door-to-door and at Trump events.
It’s time for Senator Collins to tell Mainers the whole truth: will she vote for Donald Trump?
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