As a second woman has come forward with a credible allegation of sexual assault against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Many of Sen. Susan Collins’ constituents in Maine believe she already knows enough about the nominee’s dishonesty and the threat he poses to health care access and reproductive rights to vote against his appointment to the court.
Speaking at The Cedars retirement community in Portland late Friday morning, Collins remarked that she was “appalled” by President Donald Trump’s tweet saying that if Professor Christine Blasey Ford’s claim that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her was “as bad as she says,” Ford would have filed charges. She didn’t name any actions she would take in response.
More than a dozen protestors who gathered outside of The Cedars to oppose Kavanaugh demanded Collins take a clear stance on his nomination.
Megan Grusenmeyer put it succinctly: “I would really like to see her come forward with an answer.”
“I imagine she’s under a lot of pressure,” she added, “but you don’t go into politics expecting you’re not gonna have to deal with that. I think she needs to step up to the plate.”
About Ford’s claim, Grusenmeyer said she wishes it would be taken more seriously than she believes it will.
“She’s in a strange situation, but I still think she needs to do the right thing,” said Patty Weber, a Portland resident and member of the National Council of Jewish Women. “He’s gone back on his word, even with her, [and] she claims she’s a champion for women. The reason she’s in a strange situation is because she’s playing politics, but she has to make a decision.”
Maine’s junior senator, Angus King, has already declared his opposition to Kavanaugh. In his announcement, which came before the sexual assault allegations, he cited policy issues of privacy and health care as well as Kavanaugh’s refusal to recuse himself on matters of presidential power as reasons for his decision.
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