An outraged Sen. Susan Collins demanded an apology from Troy Jackson at the Maine Senate debate Thursday after the Democratic candidate accused her of profiting off the war in Iran.
Jackson argued the incumbent isn’t using “her leverage to stop” the conflict in the Middle East because “Collins and her husband are making money off this war.”
“And so are a whole bunch of other people,” the former state Senate president charged, “and that’s why this doesn’t stop.”
Troy Jackson argued longtime incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins isn’t using “her leverage to stop” the conflict in the Middle East because “Collins and her husband are making money off this war.” WMTW-TV
Collins, a Republican, was incensed by the accusation.
“That is absolutely outrageous, and you owe me an apology,” the senator fumed. “That is absolutely outrageous.
“To say that my husband and I are making money off the war in Iran is absolutely outrageous.”
Jackson didn’t provide any evidence to back up his wild claim.
His campaign suggested the alleged profiting is tied to energy stocks owned by Collins and her husband, Tom Daffron.
“That is absolutely outrageous, and you owe me an apology,” Sen. Collins fumed. WMTW-TV
“She and her husband hold up to $100,000 in oil and gas stock,” read a post on Jackson’s X account posted during the debate. “So while our prices go up, she’s getting richer.”
Earlier in the debate, Collins noted that she has repeatedly voted in favor of a war powers resolution to halt military actions against Iran.
“I have voted nine times to bring the war in Iran to an end under the War Powers Act,” Collins said.
The senator explained that she did not support war powers resolutions brought up during the first 60 days of the conflict because the War Powers Act gives the president “broad discretion to commit our troops and to enter military action” during that time frame.
Later in the debate, Collins went after Jackson’s past opposition to abortion – arguing that the ex-Republican was an “extremist.”
“I have been pro-choice the entire time that I have served in the Senate,” Collins said. “That’s not true of Troy.
“Troy from the year 2000 until he ran for the House seat in 2013, 2014, was very anti-choice,” the senator continued. “He was for a bill that would not allow abortions when the mother’s life was at risk.
“He was an extremist when it comes to abortion.”
Jackson disagreed with Collins’ characterization of his record, but acknowledged: “Was I voting the wrong way? Yeah.”
Thursday’s showdown was the second of four scheduled debates between the candidates.
Neither candidate had access to notes this round. During a verbal bout earlier this week, Jackson was aided by a thick white binder that he referenced frequently.
Jackson came into Thursday’s debate with a less than a 1-percentage point advantage over Collins in the critical Senate race, according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls.