Supreme Court

Sen. Susan Collins Says Political Pressure Will Not Factor Into Her Decision on Brett Kavanaugh to Supreme Court

The controversy around Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh is being watched closely in Maine, where Republican Sen. Susan Collins says she is still undecided on her vote.

In an interview with CNN Sunday, Collins said she didn't know if she believed accuser Christine Blasey Ford.

"I don't know enough to make a judgment at this point," Collins said to CNN.

By Monday, Collins was tweeting that both Ford and Kavanaugh should testify under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Independent Sen. Angus King has already come out against Kavanaugh's nomination and said Monday that he hopes the allegation that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted his high school classmate will cause a delay in the proceedings.

"I think the big picture on this nomination is that there is no rush, no deadline," said King. "An extra two to three weeks to get to the bottom of this serious allegation is reasonable."

While Maine conservatives are urging Collins to vote "yes" on Kavanaugh, activists opposed to his nomination are continuing to apply pressure.

"The work will not stop until the confirmation has been stopped," said Marie Follayttar, Executive Director of Mainers For Accountable Leadership.

MFAL plans to phone bank this week, asking Mainers to donate to an online campaign that would support a candidate running against Collins. More than one million dollars has been raised so far, and the money will only be donated if Collins votes to confirm Kavanaugh.

"If she votes for Kavanaugh, we will work to defeat her," said Follayttar.

Another group, the Maine People's Alliance, has organized protests and demonstrations against Kavanaugh. MPA Co-Director Amy Halsted said people have been opposed to the SCOTUS nominee for his positions on abortion, healthcare, and the environment — and these recent assault allegations are "just another reason why."

"The ground swell of grassroots energy among Mainers, and particularly among Maine women, has been unlike anything I've seen in almost 20 years of doing this work in Maine," said Halsted.

Collins said Sunday this political pressure will not factor into her final decision on Kavanaugh. She said she is close to making a decision on his nomination.

Collins said she asked Kavanaugh about the sexual assault allegation, and he was "emphatic in his denial."

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