Bribes, Threats of Sexual Violence: Inside Liberals' Attempts to Force Sen. Collins to Vote 'No' on Kavanaugh

Abigail Robertson
09-12-2018

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WASHINGTON – With no clear path forward to derail Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, liberal activists in Maine have resorted to questionable tactics to urge moderate, pro-choice Republican Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) to vote against the nominee.

Both the Maine People's Alliance and Mainers for Accountable Leadership joined forces and set up a crowdfunding site that has raised over $1 million. According to the website, there are two scenarios: 

  • "Sen. Collins votes NO on Kavanaugh and you will not be charged, and no money will go to fund her future opponent." 
  • "Sen. Collins votes YES on Kavanaugh and your pledge will go to her opponent's campaign, once that opponent has been identified."

The website goes on to threaten that if she votes in favor of his nomination, "We will get you out of office." 

"Your swing vote could decide whether a rubber stamp for Trump's anti-healthcare, anti-woman, anti-labor agenda gets confirmed to the Supreme Court–costing millions of Americans their health care, their right to choose and their lives," the website continues.

In a statement to Newsmax, Sen. Collins said their efforts "will not influence my vote at all." 

"I consider this quid pro quo fundraising to be the equivalent of an attempt to bribe me to vote against Judge Kavanaugh," Collins told Newsmax. "I think it demonstrates the new lows to which the judge's opponents have stooped."

Throughout the ongoing confirmation process, activists have sent over 3,000 wire hangers to the senator's office.

And NBC's Kasie Hunt told "Morning Joe" Wednesday that Collins "had one 25-year-old female staffer have somebody walk up to them and say that they hope that she is raped and impregnated. And I've gotten notes from sources that people feel really uncomfortable with how this is playing out."

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) took to Twitter to call on Democrats to condemn "attempts to bribe" Sen. Collins.

Meanwhile, comedian and outspoken Democrat Chelsea Handler is calling on people to donate to the crowdfunding site.

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About The Author

Abigail Robertson Headshot
Abigail
Robertson

Abigail Robertson serves as the White House Correspondent for CBN News, where she has worked since 2015. As a reporter, Abigail covers stories from a Christian perspective on American politics and the news of the day. Before her role at the White House, Abigail covered Capitol Hill, where she interviewed notable lawmakers such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. During her time on the Hill, Abigail loved highlighting how God is moving in the House and Senate by covering different ministries on Capitol Hill and sharing lawmakers’ testimonies and
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