Brewer speaks with Maine Public about lawmakers facing pressure in impeachment inquiry
Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the University of Maine, was interviewed by Maine Public for the report, “Maine lawmakers face pressure from both sides in impeachment inquiry — and it’s history repeating.” Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is one of about 10 House Democrats who has not expressly announced support for the impeachment inquiry. He’s taking heat from some of the progressive activists who supported his narrow victory over Republican Bruce Poliquin last year, Maine Public reported. “He has to be very careful about where he comes out on impeachment,” Brewer said, adding Golden’s current position will not satisfy either of his constituencies, both of which are demanding declarations of guilt or innocence. Brewer said the pressure will only increase if the impeachment inquiry comes to a vote in the House of Representatives. “Almost certainly he’s going to anger a fair amount of his constituents either way,” he said. Brewer added that impeachment puts Republican Sen. Susan Collins in even greater political jeopardy. “She certainly can’t do what some Republican senators are doing and saying, ‘There’s nothing to see here,’ or use [Sen.] Lindsey Graham’s terminology that this is a ‘big nothingburger,’” he said. “She can’t do that. She also can’t enthusiastically line up in favor of impeachment.” WBUR (NPR Boston) also carried the Maine Public report.