×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

Collins: Delay vote to let Kavanaugh accuser testify

By The Associated Press - | Sep 22, 2018

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said Friday she’s “appalled” by President Donald Trump’s tweet criticizing his Supreme Court nominee’s accuser.

Collins also said at an event in Portland that it’s reasonable for Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote to be delayed to allow Christine Blasey Ford to testify Wednesday or Thursday. She said it’s important for the Judiciary Committee to “make it as comfortable as possible.”

Kavanaugh’s nomination has been thrown into doubt by Ford’s allegations that he sexually assaulted her when they were teens. He denies the allegations.

On Friday, Trump tweeted that if the incident was “as bad” as Ford says, then she or her parents should’ve contacted the police.

“I was appalled by the president’s tweet,” Collins said. “First of all, we know that allegations of sexual assault – I’m not saying that’s what happened in this case – but we know allegations of sexual assault are one of the most unreported crimes that exist. So I thought that the president’s tweet was completely inappropriate and wrong.”

Collins, a swing vote on the nomination, also said Ford, a California college professor, needs to testify so senators can assess her credibility. She said it would be reasonable to bring in outside counsel during the testimony to help it go as smoothly as possible.

A few dozen demonstrators attended Friday’s event, at a senior living facility called The Cedars that is expanding. They held signs with slogans such as “Be A Hero” and “Listen To Women.” They also set up a table on the sidewalk to collect notes from people urging Collins to vote against approving Kavanaugh.

Another New England senator, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, also slammed Trump’s criticism of Ford on Friday. Shaheen tweeted that Trump’s tweet was “disturbing” and the president should “put down his phone” and “call for an FBI investigation” if he wants to get to the bottom of Ford’s allegations.

Collins is scheduled to appear this evening at an event at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. She’s expected to speak on the topic of “Civility, Cooperation & Compromise: Why Our Constitutional Republic Requires Them.”

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *