Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is facing renewed scrutiny in her reelection campaign over past FBI involvement and allegations that she participated in an illegal pay-to-pay scheme with a defense contractor, according to reports from The New Republic and The Nation, which cite reporting from ProPublica.
Collins has denied the allegations. She told The Wall Street Journal, according to The New Republic, that "the Biden-led Justice Department and FBI totally cleared my office, my campaign and me five years ago of these seven-year-old allegations." The New Republic reported that this denial does not fully address the scope of the allegations.
The Associated Press and Breitbart both reported that the Supreme Court's decision overturning abortion rights is shadowing Collins's campaign, marking her first bid for reelection since that ruling.
The Washington Post reported that a past FBI inquiry is complicating Collins's campaign messaging. The New Yorker examined how Collins uses her congressional seniority to bring federal resources to Maine, questioning whether that record will be enough for voters opposed to her party.
The Nation reported that Collins is benefiting from divisions within the Democratic Party despite the corruption allegations against her, according to a column by Jeet Heer.
How each side covered it
Left
- The New Republic reported that Collins's denial of a pay-to-pay scheme allegation, citing a prior FBI clearance, does not address the full scope of the claims.
- The Nation reported that Collins is benefiting from divisions within the Democratic Party despite the corruption allegations.
- The Washington Post reported that a past FBI inquiry is complicating Collins's campaign messaging.
- The New Yorker examined whether Collins's use of her congressional seniority to bring resources to Maine will be enough for voters opposed to her party.
“Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, trying to refute corruption allegations, may have just proven them.” — The New Republic
Right
- Breitbart reported that the Supreme Court's abortion rights decision is shadowing Collins's campaign in her first bid for reelection since the ruling.
“Supreme Court vote shadows Maine Sen. Susan Collins in her first bid after abortion rights decision” — Breitbart
Questions readers ask
What allegations are facing Sen. Susan Collins?
Reports citing ProPublica allege Sen. Susan Collins was involved in an illegal pay-to-pay scheme with a defense contractor. Collins has denied the allegations, saying a past FBI and Justice Department inquiry cleared her.
How has Susan Collins responded to the corruption allegations?
Collins told The Wall Street Journal that the Biden-led Justice Department and FBI "totally cleared" her office, campaign, and herself of the allegations five years ago, according to The New Republic. The New Republic reported that this defense does not fully address the current allegations.
Why does the Supreme Court's abortion decision matter to Collins's campaign?
The Associated Press and Breitbart both reported that the Supreme Court's abortion rights ruling is shadowing Collins's reelection campaign, which is her first since that decision was issued.
What did left-leaning outlets focus on regarding Collins?
Left-leaning outlets, including The New Republic and The Nation, focused heavily on corruption allegations tied to a defense contractor and a past FBI inquiry, while The New Yorker examined her use of congressional seniority to benefit Maine.
Sources · 7 outlet reports
- Associated PressLeft-leaningSupreme Court vote shadows Maine Sen. Susan Collins in her first bid after abortion rights decision
- The NationLeft-leaningSusan Collins Is Corrupt. She Still Might Be Reelected.
- The New RepublicLeft-leaningSusan Collins’s Flimsy Corruption Defense Collapses
- The New YorkerLeft-leaningSusan Collins’s Maine Money Machine
- The Washington PostLeft-leaningA past FBI inquiry complicates Susan Collins’s campaign message in Maine
- BreitbartRight-leaningSupreme Court vote shadows Maine Sen. Susan Collins in her first bid after abortion rights decision
- The Washington TimesRight-leaningSupreme Court vote shadows Maine Sen. Susan Collins in her first bid after abortion rights decision