U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine announced Tuesday that she, too, would prefer to hear testimony before casting her lot in the upcoming impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
Collins joins fellow Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, in saying she will not stand in lockstep with their leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell, in rubber-stamping the presidents acquittal before the trial even begins.
Collins and Murkowski are the only two Republicans to date to say they would prefer McConnell allow witnesses to testify and permit evidence to be presented in the upcoming trial.
President Trump has maintained hes all for a fair trial, yet the administration so far has refused to offer its own defense, opting instead to simply not participate.
That Collins would put herself in the crosshairs of the president could speak volumes. As a moderate Republican, Collins has been criticized by her party for not defending the president in regards to his request of Ukraine to investigate Democrat frontrunner Joe Biden.
Without the presidents support, Collins would run the risk of losing the support of ultra-conservatives in her campaign for a fifth Senate term.
That said, Collins has a reputation of falling short at critical moments.
During the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh for the U.S. Supreme Court, Collins hedged on her support after he was accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct. With the Senate evenly split on Kavanaughs fate, Collins caved, ensuring his confirmation.
Murkowski, meanwhile, stood strong in her conviction Kavanaugh did not live up to the standards of the high court, and voted no the only Republican to break rank.
IF A POLITICAL party, and not a persons conscience or duty to country, determines how they act, then justice has been thrown out the window.
Senate Leader McConnell, R-Kentucky, has said he will determine the trials proceedings by coordinating with the White House on the charges against the president for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in its investigation.
Collins said such a coordinated effort by McConnell is inappropriate.
Each of us will take an oath, an oath that I take very seriously, to render impartial justice, Collins said in an interview with Maine Public Radio on Monday.
A MAJORITY of Americans 54% support the Senate calling witnesses in its upcoming trial, according to the latest Morning Consult/Politico poll, the first survey of registered voters conducted after the Houses impeachment vote.
Specifically, voters want McConnell to allow the chamber to issue evidentiary subpoenas as well as those for four current and former Trump administration officials who did not appear when asked to testify during the Houses impeachment inquiry. Among those is Mike Pompeo of Kansas, who serves as Secretary of State.
We commend Sens. Collins and Murkowski for standing up for due process.
