Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is showing her "very strong independence" in the face of threats for a crowdfunding effort to push her to vote for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said Wednesday.
"She's been very independent within the Republican caucus," Grassley told Fox Business' Neil Cavuto.
"She's an outstanding senator and she's given a forceful statement abhorring that whole process. I can't speak any more. She spoke louder than I can about it."
The left-leaning organization Mainers for Accountable Leadership (MFAL) has teamed up with another group, the Maine People's alliance, in a campaign asking donors to pledge a donation against Collins that will be charged to their credit cards if she votes for Kavanaugh.
Collins told Newsmax she considers the effort a "bribe" that will not affect her vote.
"I have known her and worked with her ever since she came to the House of Representatives in 1978," Grassley said. "She's a person of great respect and great principle and she expressed that principle."
Grassley said he expects the committee to vote on Kavanaugh next week. There will be a hearing Thursday, he said, and under a little-used rule, first-time agenda items get held over for one week, putting the debate and vote Sept. 20.
The chairman said he presumes there will be about five or six hours of debate, and then the members will vote along party lines by 11-10 to approve sending Kavanaugh on to the Senate for a full vote.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.