Sen. Collins rejects liberal 'bribe' attempt in Kavanaugh vote, says they've stooped to 'new lows

Republican Sen. Susan Collins is considered one of the GOP lawmakers who could conceivably vote against the appointment of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. As a result, liberals are trying to threaten her financially.

Collins wants nothing to do with that. The Maine senator blasted both the idea of crowdfunding money to sway her vote, and also the people behind the idea, according to Hot Air.

“I consider this quid pro quo fundraising to be the equivalent of an attempt to bribe me to vote against Judge Kavanaugh,” Collins said.

The funding campaign is organized by the Maine People's Alliance and Mainers for Accountable Leadership.

What's happening?

Collins is referring to a large-scale crowdfunding effort by which liberals have raised about a million dollars to influence her against Kavanaugh.

But if she does what they want, it's not like she'll get any of that money. Rather, if she votes against Kavanaugh, the GoFundMe campaign will refund all the donations to those who contributed. If Collins votes in favor of Kavanaugh, however, the $1 million or more will be donated to the campaign of Collins' 2020 opponent.

"[Kavanaugh] is committed to overturning Roe v. Wade," the message to Collins reads. "Kavanaugh cannot be nominated — he would mean bankruptcy and danger for millions of families in Maine and America. The people of Maine are asking you to be a hero, Sen. Collins."

Collins brushes off the threat

Collins said she won't be bullied into voting one way or the other by the threat of financial support for her future opponent, although she didn't give a hint on how she would ultimately decide.

"This effort will not influence my vote at all,” Collins said. “I think it demonstrates the new lows to which the judge’s opponents have stooped.”

Even though the group is not saying they'll pay Collins for her vote, there are questions about whether it is a type of illegal bribe.

“It is certainly raising the specter of whether or not this violates the United States criminal code to prohibitions against attempted bribery, by linking official actions to monetary reward,” attorney Cleta Mitchell of Foley & Lardner told Newsmax.