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I read in the Sept. 11 paper the article headlined “Trump vows to send $5K to every American if GOP wins.” According to the article, Sen. Susan Collins says the proposal would be “costly.”

That’s it? She’s not concerned that he is bribing Americans with $5,000 to vote Republican? She is not concerned that he is breaking federal law? 

Here is what the law says: Federal law U.S. Code § 597- Expenditures to Influence Voting –
Whoever makes or offers to make an expenditure to any person, either to vote or withhold his vote, or to vote for or against any candidate …, if the violation was willful, shall be fined or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

According to the article, Sen. Angus King “cited the federal law that bans spending money to influence voting” and Rep. Chellie Pingree called the payment idea “flagrantly illegal and pathetically desperate.” Both Sen. King and Rep. Pingree obviously know the law. I find it hard to believe that Sen. Collins doesn’t.

As a senator, Susan Collins swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, which includes upholding all federal laws. Since Collins is turning a blind eye to Trump violating the Expenditures to Influence Voting Law, it seems to me that she is failing to discharge the duties of the office she swore an oath to uphold. 

It’s time to replace her with someone who takes their oath of office seriously.

Don Salvatore
Scarborough