Susan Collins Calls On Senate Committee To Interview Second Kavanaugh Accuser Under Oath

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Last updated on October 11th, 2018 at 05:21 am

Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins – a pivotal Republican vote for Supreme Court nominees – called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to reach out to Deborah Ramirez, the second woman who has come forward claiming Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her.

According to The Hill, Collins said, “I believe that the committee investigators should reach out to Deborah Ramirez to question her under oath about what she is alleging happened.”

When Collins was asked whether Ramirez should appear at the panel’s hearing on Thursday, the Maine Republican said, “No, because there hasn’t even been an interview of her yet and I think that needs to take place first.”

The Maine lawmaker’s call for an interview comes after an explosive New Yorker report was published on Sunday claiming that “Kavanaugh had exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party, thrust his penis in [Ramirez’s] face, and caused her to touch it without her consent as she pushed him away.”

The good news: Collins seems to be taking the allegations seriously

The good news about Sen. Collins calling for an interview with the second Kavanaugh accuser is that she appears to recognize the gravity of these allegations.

Most other Republican lawmakers, like Sens. Orrin Hatch, Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell, seem to care very little about the claims. Instead, the male-dominated GOP caucus continues to smear the accusers and push for a vote.

In the Trump era of American politics, it’s hard to be stunned by anything the GOP does, but the past week has given all Americans, particularly women, yet another reason to be shocked.

The bad news: Susan Collins could still vote in favor of Kavanaugh

Even as more accusers have come forward claiming Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted them, Sen. Collins still appears to be leaning toward a “yes” vote.

In an interview published on Monday, Sen. Collins touted Kavanaugh‘s stance on Roe v. Wade, saying she doesn’t believe the Trump nominee would overturn the case that granted women abortion rights.

“I do not believe he’s going to repeal Roe v. Wade,” the senator said.

Still, as Collins tries to convince her angry constituents that Kavanaugh won’t destroy reproductive rights, the floor is shifting beneath her feet. It’s no longer just about Roe v. Wade. It’s about whether she and her Republican colleagues are willing to vote for an accused sexual predator to serve a lifetime term on the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Sean Colarossi

Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.

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