Senator Susan Collins would never admit that she is refusing to meet the standard she set for impeachment two decades ago, but her noncommittal statements are doing it for her.
In 1999, Collins said directly, “I need more evidence. I need witnesses and further evidence to guide me to the right destination, to get to the truth.” But last evening, she released a winding public statement littered with equivocations like “I tend to believe having additional information would be helpful,” and “It is likely that I would support a motion,” while offering no promise that Collins will commit to a fair trial.
In fact, Senator Collins’ misleading verbal gymnastics obscure the one plan she has made clear — to block efforts to bring forth witnesses and crucial new evidence that could interfere with Mitch McConnell’s vision for his sham impeachment trial.
Compare what Senator Collins is saying now to her own words from 1999:
“Instead of using her platform like she did 20 years ago to call for a full accounting of the evidence, Senator Collins is parsing her every public statement to try to protect her political career without actually taking a stand against Mitch McConnell’s sham process,” said DSCC spokesperson Stewart Boss. “Unfortunately for Senator Collins, Mainers can see through the talking points and they know she’s changed, which is why she’s now the most unpopular Senator in the country.”
The DSCC launched WhatChangedSusan.com to highlight Senator Collins’ alignment with Mitch McConnell and refusal to set the same standards for a fair impeachment process that she did in 1999. WhatChangedSusan.com will be updated regularly as the impeachment process unfolds.
###
Next Post
