Outraged Senator Susan Collins demanded an apology from Troy Jackson during the Maine Senate debate on Thursday after the Democratic candidate accused her of profiting from the war in Iran.
Jackson argued that the outgoing president is not using “her influence to stop” the conflict in the Middle East because “Collins and her husband are making money from this war.”
“And a whole bunch of other people too,” the former state Senate president charged, “and that’s why it doesn’t stop.”
Collins, a Republican, was angered by the accusation.
“It’s absolutely scandalous and you owe me an apology,” the senator fumed. “It’s absolutely scandalous.
“To say that my husband and I are making money from the war in Iran is absolutely outrageous. »
Jackson provided no evidence to support his wild claims.
Her campaign suggested the alleged profits were linked to energy stocks owned by Collins and her husband, Tom Daffron.
“She and her husband own up to $100,000 in oil and gas stocks,” read a post on Jackson’s X account during the debate. “As our prices rise, she gets richer.”
Earlier in the debate, Collins noted that she had repeatedly voted in favor of a war powers resolution to end military actions against Iran.
“I voted nine times to end the war in Iran under the War Powers Act,” Collins said.
The senator explained that she did not support war powers resolutions introduced during the first 60 days of the conflict because the War Powers Act gives the president “broad discretion to commit our troops and enter into military action” during that time.
Later in the debate, Collins attacked Jackson’s past opposition to abortion – arguing that the ex-Republican was an “extremist.”
“I’ve been pro-choice the entire time I’ve served in the Senate,” Collins said. “That’s not the case with Troy.
“Troy, from the year 2000 until he ran for Congress in 2013 and 2014, was very anti-choice,” the senator continued. “He was for a bill that would ban abortions when the mother’s life was in danger.
“He was an abortion extremist.”
Jackson disagreed with Collins’ description of his record, but acknowledged: “Did I vote the wrong way? Yeah.”
Thursday’s showdown was the second of four planned debates between the candidates.
Neither candidate had access to the notes from this round. During a verbal fight earlier this week, Jackson was aided by a thick white binder that he frequently referred to.
Jackson entered Thursday’s debate with an advantage of less than a percentage point over Collins in the crucial Senate race, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average.
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