If Senator Collins is actually committed to a fair trial, she should commit to using her power in the Senate to secure a fair trial -- as Maine Democrats called on her to do last week
Senator Collins continues to fall short of the standard she set 20 years ago by backing an impeachment process that does not guarantee witnesses or the inclusion of evidence.
Now, as President Trump says he will invoke executive privilege to block testimony from his former National Security Advisor John Bolton, Senator Collins still refuses to support efforts to compel witnesses.
As Maine Democrats demanded last week, if Senator Collins is actually committed to a fair trial, she should use her power in the Senate to secure the following:
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GUARANTEE WITNESSES: Maine Democrats call on Senator Collins to demand that Mitch McConnell set up an impeachment process that guarantees the inclusion of witnesses, and commit that she will not support votes to proceed with the rules of impeachment without their inclusion.
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GUARANTEE INCLUSION OF IMPORTANT EVIDENCE: Maine Democrats call on Senator Collins to demand that Mitch McConnell set up an impeachment process that guarantees the inclusion of important evidence, and commit that she will not support votes to proceed with the rules of impeachment without the inclusion of evidence.
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LIFT WHITE HOUSE GAG ORDER: Maine Democrats call on Senator Collins to demand that the White House lift the gag order it has put on key witnesses, to ensure the Senate has access to all important and relevant information.
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NO ACQUITTAL WITHOUT FAIR PROCESS: Maine Democrats call on Senator Collins to commit that she will refuse to acquit the President if a fair process -- including witnesses and evidence -- does not take place.
“Senator Collins’ ‘openness’ to hearing from witnesses is meaningless unless she can ensure that critical witnesses testify,” said Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Kathleen Marra. “Collins loves to tout her position of power within the Republican caucus, but until she is willing to use her influence to demand Bolton's testimony, her so-called ‘openness’ will continue to ring hollow.”
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