Senator Collins’ comments are outdated

When Senator Susan Collins made her disturbing statements following the felony conviction of former President Trump, I decided not to write a letter to the Press Herald to express my concern. What is there to gain from these deeply divided times?

But when Senator Collins and her spokesperson decided to insult the intelligence of Mainers by arguing that statements made after Trump was convicted denouncing the political nature of his prosecution did not show contempt for the justice system, I felt compelled to set the record straight.

Senator Collins is likely to pause for a moment before commenting on Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to porn stars shortly before the 2016 presidential election. After all, it was Senator Collins who delivered the memorable defense when voting to acquit then-President Trump in his first impeachment trial, expressing her belief that Trump had “learned a pretty big lesson” from the impeachment.

After a second impeachment, an insurrection and four felony indictments, that prediction seems less real. The only lesson Trump has learned, as reaffirmed by the senator’s recent statements, is that he can do whatever he wants, and that virtually every supposedly “moderate” Republican will follow his lead.

And who could forget that the proud pro-abortion senator said he was wrong to fear Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade? In a press release explaining her confirmation vote, Senator Collins noted that Roe was decided 45 years ago and reaffirmed 19 years later, and “I asked Judge Kavanaugh if the passage of time has any bearing on following precedent.” According to the senator, the judge’s assurance that “respect for precedent is essential to maintaining the public’s trust” is more valuable than Trump’s campaign promise to appoint only justices who would overturn Roe. Let’s just say the senator is no Nostradamus.

Given this record, one would think that Senator Collins might remain silent if she did not dare repeat her statements expressing confidence in the justice system, but the Senator wants us to know that the only statements she made criticizing New York’s prosecution of Trump came after the jury unanimously convicted Trump and were not attacks on the justice system.

Really? Why then would Senator Collins make a statement immediately after a jury she claims she “did not attack” delivered its verdict? Similarly, Senator Collins’ spokesperson would have us believe that her accusation that the Manhattan district attorney unfairly targeted former President Trump is not an attack on “judges, juries, or the justice system.” Strange. I’ve always thought government prosecutors were part of the “justice system.”

It is unfortunate that Senator Collins still feels the need to defend Trump. The only saving grace from this unfortunate turn of events is that Sunday’s Press Herald report and a series of recent letters to the editor suggest that Mainers are smarter.

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