Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of the Senate’s most prominent and respected moderate Republicans, came to former President Trump’s defense on Thursday, criticizing the “political underpinnings” of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s decision. (D), to sue Trump.
Collins was one of seven Senate Republicans to vote to convict Trump on the impeachment charge of incitement of insurrection in 2021 and said earlier this year that he would not support Trump even if he won the GOP nomination for president.
But Collins argued that Trump’s conviction by a Manhattan jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records raises serious concerns.
“It is fundamental to our American justice system that the government prosecute cases because of alleged criminal conduct, regardless of who the defendant is. In this case the opposite happened. The district attorney, who campaigned on a promise to prosecute Donald Trump, brought these charges precisely because of who the defendant was, and not because of any specific criminal conduct,” she said in a statement.
“The political underpinnings of this case further blur the lines between the judicial system and the electoral system, and this verdict will likely be the subject of a prolonged appeal process,” she warned.
During a 2018 interview, Collins said he didn’t know much about the circumstances of the secret payments Trump paid to porn star Stormy Daniels through his lawyer Michael Cohen.
“Well, I don’t know the circumstances of it,” she said when asked about Trump’s affair with Daniels on CNN at the time. “In some ways, this appears to be an issue between the President and Mrs. Trump. It doesn’t seem to be a problem in the workplace as far as I know.”
Collins is one of many Senate Republicans who have a lot to do with the outcome of the 2024 election, with Trump at the top of the Republican ticket.
If Republicans regain the Senate majority, she will be in line to chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.
Maine’s senior senator is highly respected by colleagues on both sides of the aisle for her in-depth study and careful deliberation of important issues. She was a key vote in the decision to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court after he was accused by Christine Blasey Ford of committing sexual assault decades earlier.
Other members of the Maine delegation defended the jury’s guilty verdict against Trump.
“Today in New York City, a historic event occurred: a former president found guilty on criminal charges – an incredibly consequential decision after weeks of evidence and testimony. However, the event was also a typical day in courtrooms across the world. country —12 men and women, from all walks of life, coming together to fulfill their civic duty As we face a world of uncertainty and conflict, the infrastructure of our shared American identity remains robust as long as we are vigilant in remembering of our founding principles, including equal justice under the law,” said independent senator Angus King (Maine) in a statement Thursday.
Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree (Maine) called on colleagues and constituents to have “faith” in what she called an “important exercise of the rule of law.”
“I am grateful for the firmness and courage of the jurors who spent long days fulfilling their civic duty. While our country faces many challenges, now is the time to have some faith in our democracy and this important exercise of the rule of law,” she said in a statement.
Updated at 9:02 a.m. EDT
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
