The Hill reports:
“I’m going to have an in depth discussion with the nominee and I believe very much that Roe v. Wade is settled law, as it has been described by Chief Justice Roberts,” Collins said. “It has been established as a constitutional right for 46 years — 45 years, and was reaffirmed 26 years ago.”
Collins, who will be a key swing vote in the nominee’s upcoming confirmation process, said on Sunday that she was looking for a nominee who would “demonstrate a respect for precedent.”
“A nominee position, whether or not they respect precedent, will tell me a lot about whether or not they would overturn Roe v. Wade,” she said. “A candidate of this import position who would overturn Roe v. Wade would not be acceptable to me, because that would indicate an activist agenda that I don’t want to see a judge have.”
GOP Sen. Susan Collins says Trump told her in a meeting that he would not ask a Supreme Court justice nominee whether they would overturn the ruling in Roe v. Wade #CNNSOTU https://t.co/coMHU0eerK https://t.co/cYUwkKh2ll
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 1, 2018
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she finds it “heartening” that Republican Sen. Susan Collins won’t support a SCOTUS nominee who would overturn Roe v. Wade https://t.co/hzbR4ySCdr #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/NXW91qADDD
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) July 1, 2018
Susan Collins to @jaketapper: “The President told me he would not ask that question” about Roe.
He doesnt need to, Susan Collins. The Federalist Society picked the list for Trump because they already know which judges are anti-Roe.— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) July 1, 2018
.@jaketapper points out Trump promised Roe is a litmus test. Susan Collins replies Trump told her he wouldn’t ask the nominee about Roe. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? #mepolitics
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) July 1, 2018
Susan Collins on CNN: “Justice Roberts has made very clear he considers Roe v Wade to be settled law.”
Collins adds: “I actually don’t” think Gorsuch would vote to overturn Roe.
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) July 1, 2018