One year ago today, Senator Susan Collins voted to confirm Trump’s attorney general nominee Bill Barr. Now, Barr is meddling on behalf of the president in the prosecution of longtime Trump ally Roger Stone, and four prosecutors have resigned from the case in protest of the interference.
It was clear from the beginning that Barr’s belief in “sweeping executive powers” would erode the independence of the Department of Justice and empower Trump’s worst instincts, but Collins voted to confirm him anyway. Since taking over at the Department, Barr has used his position to provide “broad legal cover for Trump.” And now, as Barr enables Donald Trump’s abuse of the powers of the presidency to retaliate against his enemies and shield his allies, Senator Collins is once again complicit.
“Once again, Senator Collins has enabled Trump’s assault on one of our most important democratic institutions,” said Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Lisa Roberts. “After letting the president off the hook in the impeachment trial and confirming Trump cronies like Bill Barr to lead the administration, Collins owns the flagrant abuses of power that she voted to permit.”
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