Donald Trump is losing his hold on the Republican Party where it matters. And Susan Collins completely threw him under the bus blaming him for Jan 6.
Republican Susan Collins throws Trump under the bus
Jake Tapper asked Senator Susan Collins if she supported the Select Committee. She claimed the committee was partisan. When Tapper pointed out that the committee had two Republicans, Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, she balked. She said that Nancy Pelosi should not be the one picking who served.
Tapper made it clear that firstly it was Mitch McConnell who effectively blocked an evenly divided bipartisan commission. And secondly, Rep. Jim Jordan could have been a material witness since he was in contact with Trump, likely on January sixth. She still believed it was the Republican Minority Leader who should appoint the representatives to the committee. Of course, she is wrong. Jim Jordan and Jim Banks would have made the Select Committee a circus.
But then Collins kind of redeemed herself, somewhat anyway. She threw Trump under the bus with the following exchange while discussing Pelosi nixing Jim Jordan and Jim Banks.
“The reason she did that is because, at least two of the members McCarthy picked to be on the committee are election liars, one of whom, Jim Jordan, is possibly even a material witness,” Tapper said. “He spoke with Trump that day.”
“Well, there were many communications with President Trump that day,” Collins said. “And, look, as you know, I believe that he — that, while the rioters are primarily responsible for what happened, there’s no doubt in my mind that President Trump helped instigate and motivate the rioters. And that’s one reason I voted to impeach him. The hallmark of our democracy is the peaceful transfer of power. And for anyone, the rioters, the president, anyone, to try to interfere with the Electoral College count is completely unacceptable.”
Trump is losing support slowly. But it is consistent.