Sen. Susan Collins is facing a possible censure over her vote to convict former President Donald Trump of inciting an insurrection ahead of the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6.
“Personally, I don’t like Trump. He’s a rude, arrogant buffoon. But I don’t think he was treated fairly,” one Republican said during a virtual meeting between the leaders of the state’s 16 Republican county committees.
The group met on Monday evening to discuss a possible censure or another rebuke of Collins and to look into whether to hold a state party meeting to discuss the possibilities.
Another Republican said during the meeting that Collins went against her constituents with her vote and characterized the Senate trial last week as “mudslinging.”
“Trump is out of office. Let it go,” he said.
Collins joined six other Republicans on Saturday in voting to convict the former president of inciting an insurrection. Trump was ultimately acquitted on a 57-43 vote.
The Republicans who voted to impeach also include Sens. Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, and Pat Toomey.
“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,” Collins said in response to the possible censure. “I think we need to get away from the idea that the Republican Party is just one person and adherence to just one leader. Instead, it’s principles. It’s fundamentals that bring us together.”
State GOP parties have already censured Burr and Cassidy for their votes to convict Trump, and Romney also faces a possible censure.
