Facing a possible Republican censure at home, Susan Collins calls for refocus on principles
Collins voted Saturday to convict President Trump in his impeachment trial
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Updated: 7:33 PM EST Feb 16, 2021
Collins voted Saturday to convict President Trump in his impeachment trial
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Updated: 7:33 PM EST Feb 16, 2021
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WMTW NEWS8'S PHIL HIRSCHKORN SPOKE TO COLLINS TODAY ABOUT HER REACTION. (PHIL ON CAM OPEN AT DUSK) "SUSAN COLLINS TELLS ME SHE KNOWS SOME REPUBLICANS "DISAGREE VERY STRENUOSULY" WITH HER IMPEACHMENT TRIAL VOTE TO CONVICT, BUT SHE SAYS IT WAS A VOTE OF CONSCIENCE." (NEW SOT COLLINS, 1:43) "I ADHERED TO THE CONSTITUTION." (VO 1: ZOOM TWO SHOT) SPEAKING TO ME FROM HER HOME IN BANGOR, COLLINS SAID HER PARTY MUST HAVE ROOM FOR PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE. (SOT COLLINS, 2:41) "I THINK WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THE IDEA THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS JUST ONE PERSON, AND ADHERENCE TO JUST ONE LEADER." (VO 2: TRUMP LEAVES DC) INSTEAD OF MERELY RALLYING AROUND THE FORMER PRESIDENT, COLLINS WANTS THE PARTY TO TEND TO ITS PRINCIPLES. (SOT COLLINS, 2:17) "THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NEEDS TO GO BACK TO FOCUSING ON WHAT WE STAND FOR, WHETHER IT'S OPPORTUNITY, A STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE, SMALLER GOVERNMENT, LOWER TAXES, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY." (VO 3: COLLINS SPEECH SATURDAY) COLLINS ECHOES RONALD REAGAN'S OLD CALL FOR "A BIG TENT." (SOT COLLINS, :55) "WE NEED TO GROW OUR PARTY. I AM THE LAST REMAINING REPUBLICAN FEDERAL OFFICEHOLDER IN ALL OF NEW ENGLAND. WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, THERE USED TO BE 19 OF US." (NEW VO 4: JAN. 6TH RIOT) COLLINS SAYS THE JANUARY 6TH RIOT NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY EITHER CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES OR AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION. (NEW SOT COLLINS, 4:50) "I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WE WEREN'T BETTER PREPARED. THERE WAS AN FBI REPORT FROM VIRGINIA THAT WARNED THERE WERE GOING TO BE VIOLENT INSURRECTIONISTS THAT WOULD TRY TO BREACH THE CAPITOL'S PERIMETER THAT DAY. WHAT WASN'T THAT ACTED ON?" (PHIL ON CAM CLOSE AT DUSK) "AS FOR WEATHERING A POSSIBLE CESNURE -- COLLINS CARRIED 14 OF THE STATE'S 16 COUNTIES WHILE WINNING RE- ELECTION LAST YEAR BY 9%, THE SAME M