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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 45m

Again @randybillings.bsky.social with the lazy/sloppy recap: Other than hand-waving, straw man nonsense and falsely suggesting that Navatek's work product wasn't useless (later debunked), what *specific* claims made by @propublica.org has Susan Collins or her camp actually denied? Any? #MEpolitics

Press Herald article: Collins and her campaign have repeatedly denied the allegations outlined in the ProPublica article, calling them “outrageous.”

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 53m

Attorneys for Christina Blasey Ford: "[Susan] Collins may claim to be a moderate, but she does not vote like one. And where Dr. Ford demonstrated tremendous courage, Sen. Collins has demonstrated that she will always place politics over principle." tinyurl.com/yb6pyx63 #MEpolitics

Press Herald article: "Collins justified her vote by explaining that she had met privately with Kavanaugh, who, in addition to denying the assault, assured her that he would honor precedent, including Roe v. Wade. She subsequently also told CNN that with regard to Dr. Ford’s sexual assault, “I do not believe that Brett Kavanaugh was her assailant. I do believe that she was assaulted. I don’t know by whom, and I’m not certain when, but I do not believe he was the assailant.”
This preposterous explanation, while politically expedient, was offensive not only to Dr. Ford but to survivors everywhere. Conveniently forgotten by Collins was Dr. Ford’s sworn testimony that she was “one hundred percent” certain that it was Kavanaugh who had assaulted her. Also ignored was the important fact that Dr. Ford had named Kavanaugh as her assailant to her friends, therapist and husband years before his nomination."

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 10h

Surprised to see @pressherald.com pick up this story. But maybe they felt they had to after Susan Collins spox said: "Sen. Collins was not involved in this decision." What?! It was in the appropriations bill! And she chairs the committee! That means she's was "involved"! #MEpolitics

Press Herald headline: Susan Collins’s committee bought trucks the Army didn’t want. Then campaign donations poured in.
Appropriations committee members saw an influx of campaign contributions after steering $345 million to a military contractor.
Posted 2:14 PM
Updated at 2:14 PM
Matt Sledge, Jorge Medellín

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 15h

At risk of taking Susan Collins half-baked pushback on ProPublica's revelations more seriously than it deserves: It's like if you got hold of security footage from your doctor's office and said, "You see! I hadn't paid yet but they saw me anyway! That's proof I never agreed to pay!" #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 19h

The Never-Trump Republicans at The Bulwark understand that Susan Collins's fake moderation and her amoral cynicism make her more dangerous -- and a bigger asset to the wannabe fascists -- than any other GOP candidate this cycle. #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 20h

Underscores how wildly irresponsible it was for @randybillings.bsky.social/@pressherald.com to run a piece yesterday indulging Susan Collins's desperation-fueled pretense that this photo was exculpatory when that makes no sense. Being a 'BS detector' for readers is the core of the job! #MEpolitics

Press Herald: Susan Collins camp releases new info disputing alleged pay-to-play scheme
The campaign released documents and photos it says undermine a recent ProPublica report.
Posted Yesterday at 5:51 PM
Updated October 6

Randy Billings
Staff Writer

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 20h

@propublica.org's Molly Redden makes the same observation we made yesterday: The photo Susan Collins put out yesterday of her meeting Martin Kao in 2018 is fully consistent w/ ProPublica's article. It doesn't refute the report. If anything it's more corroboration. tinyurl.com/mwx5s6n2 #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 21h

Why are all of the columns supporting Susan Collins written by former staffers of professional Republicans? (We have a few ideas.) This guy advised her on the Kavanaugh confirmation. #MEpolitics

Press Herald: Susan Collins’ approach to governing is the right approach | Opinion
Collins is among the lonely voices in Washington pushing back against the dangerous partisanship that undermines our constitutional order.
Posted 4:29 AM

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 21h

You're right. At least in a debate format, it probably doesn't make sense to press her more than once. Her refusal to answer stands on its own.

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 22h

This is a good example of Susan Collins preference for playing the role of pundit rather than answering questions like an accountable public official -- and of Maine media's inexcusable willingness to indulge this preference. At least in a debate it lands as evasive. (And haughty?) #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Ah, you've got to love Susan Collins's hometown fanzine Bangor Daily News. This is an interesting way to spin it! #MEpolitics

Bangor Daily News headline: Susan Collins doesn’t back down from Brett Kavanaugh vote in 1st debate with Troy Jackson

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Susan Collins didn't explain why her health insurance drought lasted just one year: By 1995 an assault-weapons manufacturer had literally created a job for her to funnel $$$ to her in advance of her next race. She later voted to exempt gun companies from lawsuits. tinyurl.com/2s4ztz4z #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Another ridiculously gentle summary of ProPublica's report from the Susan Collins-friendly @pressherald.com and her enabler Randy Billings. The report details MISDEEDS -- not just allegations of "leveraging." (!?) There are e-mails! And few (any?) of the key claims are in dispute! #MEpolitics

Press Herald: Collins has been under fire for nearly two weeks since ProPublica published a report detailing allegations that she was leveraging her role on the appropriations committee to solicit political donations.

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

What exactly are you attempting to do here?

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Reposted by Collins Watch

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Jackson's little chuckle and "what are we doing here?" gesture at the end are both perfect

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Sounds like the debate went quite badly for Susan Collins (we didn't watch) but anyway if she wins there's a good chance Trump gets to appoint a 40 year-old anti-choice MAGA acolyte to replace Alito for the next 40 years. If she loses he probably doesn't. Those are some of the stakes. #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Another thing going on here: Press Herald ran a story that paints Susan Collins in a not-great light so they have to pair it with a story that privileges her point of view because that's their warped idea of "balance." tinyurl.com/e4kruvc9 #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

What's going on here is Susan Collins and her team know they're in a pickle and are looking for a way to turn the page. So starting tomorrow (or whatever) they're going to say: We refuted the story! Old news! But they haven't refuted it. They've just released a photo of her with Kao. #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Holy cow if only there existed some independent entity that could assess whether what Susan Collins and her team say is true or not. (It's not.) What absolute junk @randybillings.bsky.social / @pressherald.com. Running errands for a flailing, corrupt politician. Aren't you embarrassed? #MEpolitics

Press Herald headline: Susan Collins camp releases new info disputing alleged pay-to-play scheme
The campaign released documents and photos they say undermine a recent ProPublica report.

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

New claims! Not sure how Susan Collins releasing a photo of her w/ Martin Kao is supposed to refute anything...especially since it's consistent with what Kao told ProPublica...but you do you Team Collins! It does seem to suggest Collins believes she's in a pickle. tinyurl.com/mwupd3jx #MEpolitics

WGME tweet: There are new claims regarding an alleged "pay to play" scheme involving Senator Susan Collins and her last campaign in 2020.

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Maybe the most notable bit here -- not a shocker -- is that the "Constituent Coffee" events Susan Collins holds for PR purposes in her DC office aren't actually open to all Mainers. You've got to be the right *kind* of constituent. (Presumably one who can be relied on to play nice.) #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Can't recall her doing this in the homestretch of a campaign before. Weird move. Seems like something dictated from outside/above.

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

"Can't be bought or bossed" is a good line. #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Remarkable how many salient facts about Susan Collins remain bottled up until years after it wouldn't been helpful for local media to have disclosed them: --Green's sister worked for her --Bought her last house from the family that owns BDN --Her mom was on a @mainepublic.org board #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Susan Collins vote to advance Trump's Big Beautiful Bill the day after Stephen Schwarzman sent her super PAC $2M hits pretty darn different after ProPublica's pay-to-play revelations. Does anyone doubt Schwarzman has Collins phone number? Or that they spoke before he forked over $2M? #MEpolitics

mainebeacon.com

Susan Collins advanced Trump Tax Bill after receiving $2 million from private equity billionaire - Maine Beacon

As she gears up for a tough midterm race against a progressive challenger in 2026, Sen. Susan Collins is struggling to shake her reputation as a sellout to corporate interests. A new report out last w...

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Yes but those ads might have hit different if it was widely know that his sister had been on Susan Collins's payroll?

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Did folks know that Bill Green's sister used to work for Susan Collins? We didn't. Not till today. Everything is transactional with this woman. #MEpolitics

Bangor Daily News: "Green, the brother of former longtime Collins aide Julie Green, retired from News Center Maine in 2019."

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Even now Susan Collins won't say she has any regrets about confirming the MAGA Christian nationalist who had publicly vowed to ignore the law and the provisions of the Constitution that put Congress squarely in charge of spending. tinyurl.com/mu5pxyz6 #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The opening was already there but Susan Collins's unconscionable support for Trump's wag-the-dog war of choice with Iran has definitely increased the size of the opening. #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Former Watergate prosecutor and US attorney notes that while Susan Collins has done a lot of hand-waiving in response to the corruption revelations in @propublica.org's bombshell report...she hasn't actually grappled with or refuted the substance of what's presented in the article. #MEpolitics

Daily News column:

Maine Senator Susan Collins will be forced in four upcoming debates with her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson, to address the facts reported in ProPublica’s bombshell exposé that she accepted illegal campaign contributions from a government contractor in exchange for help with a Pentagon deal. To date, her response has been limited to attacking her accuser as a liar for cooperating with the FBI to deflect voters’ attention away from his incriminating testimony.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Collins denied without a factual response the detailed ProPublica allegations that she had accepted donations from defense contractor Navatek in return for millions of dollars in U.S. Navy contracts:
“

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Still don't understand why Jackson's team agreed to a debate hosted by a Sinclair station or another hosted by a combination of Phil Hirschkorn's employer (is Susan Collins chief bootlicker moderating?) AND the Collins-friendly Portland Press Herald. Might as well do it on Fox News. #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

"A vote for Collins is a clear vote for Trump's agenda. If people disapprove of what Trump is doing to this country, then they should not be voting for Collins, period." #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

California-based MAGA who ran the Kennedy Center into the ground for Trump being sent out by Susan Collins to knock doors in...Bangor. A little bit on the nose! #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Susan Collins back to using a pre-checked recurring donation box (tinyurl.com/rfpkyfkw) -- a scammy, predatory practice FEC asked Congress to ban cuz it has a track record of duping unsuspecting seniors. She stopped for a while; no longer uses it on her website after it got attention. #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The earlier you vote the more time you have to devote your energies to getting others to vote. The earlier you vote the sooner groups that organize can take you off their list and focus on getting iffy voters to vote. #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Susan Collins should be pressed on whether she would confirm a Supreme Court nominee from Trump in the lame duck session after she loses the election. Or after Republicans lose the majority. #MEpolitics

WaPo headline: Analysis | How would Susan Collins approach a new Supreme Court vacancy?
The Maine senator's vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 is still an issue as she seeks reelection.

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Maine firefighter and EMT: "Many firefighters are sitting around their kitchen tables trying to figure out how to pay their bills because of [Susan] Collins' negligence in the U.S. Senate." #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Only difference btwn Trump's empty cries of "fake news" and the sort of smears, hand-waiving and fake umbrage that Susan Collins and her team are resorting to in response to @propublica.org's report is that Maine's cowed/pliant media take her absurd histrionics seriously (or pretend to). #MEpolitics

Susan Collins applauding and smiling at Donald Trump.

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

To distract from calamitous revelations (many undisputed!) in @propublica.org's bombshell report, Susan Collins has been talking about the respected outlet -- winner of 9 Pulitzers -- like it's a left-wing Newsmax. But there's a reason PPH/BDN ran the report. It's credible and damning. #MEpolitics

Bangor Daily News front page. Hedline: FBI's anti-corruption squad was circling Collins -- until Trump got in the way

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

We were making calls for a high-profile federal race last week (not Maine) and a guy picked up and said he hadn't thought about the election yet and thanked us for prompting him to. Reminder that many (most?) folks are just now tuning in. Time to reach out to every wobbly Dem you know. #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Facts not in dispute: Susan Collins finance director and her husband's boss BOTH colluded with a felon donor to obtain separate illegal campaign donations. Denying this amounts to 'wrongdoing' is just further confirmation that Collins's moral compass is broken. #MEpolitics

News Center Maine headline: Sen. Collins rejects corruption allegations tied to 2020 campaign, calling them 'completely baseless'
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is publicly pushing back against allegations involving her 2020 reelection...

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

OMG. Susan Collins has been doing the fake bus tour thing for 30+ years! #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Sounds familiar! From Anthony Emerson's history of Susan Collins's failed 1994 gubernatorial campaign: tinyurl.com/3u3hnfrm #MEpolitics

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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Former Republican: Mainers need to hear from Susan Collins "live and in person" on the "potentially career-ending" reporting from @propublica.org. #MEpolitics

I was a longtime Auburn resident and used to be a Republican.
As reported recently by ProPublica, a serious and potentially career-ending allegation was made against Sen. Susan Collins. Did she illegally channel government contracts to a Hawaiian defense contractor that paid her campaign through a fake company it concocted to hide what it was doing?
Will Sen. Collins agree to do a town hall or an interview with the ProPublica journalists to discuss the facts and points detailed in the ProPublica reporting? It appears her response thus far has been to have her staff blow smoke and for Collins to shoot the messenger, i.e., the journalists at ProPublica. She has essentially taken a clue from our president and yelled “fake news.”
But, ProPublica is a respected reporting source dedicated to holding government representatives to account. It report that it has reviewed thousands of emails never previously revealed, and it has interviewed many persons close to the case who have corroborated much of the reporting. It has the receipts, unfortunately for Collins.
Why did her campaign staff agree to accept $150,000 from a shell company hiding the source as a government contractor?
On the face of it, the ProPublica article is damning to Collins. Other than repeating “fake news,” how can she defend herself? I have no idea. But, for the first time in over 25 years, the public should hear from her live and in person. She should meet with voters. Failing her agreement to do so, she should sit for a thorough interview with ProPublica. Mainers deserve to know, to paraphrase Richard M. Nixon, if their U.S. senator is a crook.
Daniel Mawhinney
Portland

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