Watch Here

Collins Says Trump’s Call with Ukrainian President Zelensky Was “Wrong” and “Far from Perfect”

Watch Here

On Her Vote to Acquit President Trump, Collins Says, “It’s Not My Job to Weigh the Political Consequences” and that She’s “Sure There Are Going to Be People Unhappy with Me in Maine”

Watch Here

Watch the Interview Tonight on the “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell”

(6:30-7:00 PM, ET)

CBS EVENING NEWS anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell interviewed Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) Tuesday, Feb. 4, in Washington, D.C. The interview airs tonight on the CBS EVENING NEWS with NORAH O’DONNELL (6:30-7:00 PM, ET) on the CBS Television Network. Collins announced today on the Senate floor that she will vote to acquit President Trump. In the interview, Collins explains her decision, reveals to O’Donnell if she will support Senator Manchin’s censure resolution, discusses President Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address, and more.

Watch excerpts from the interview and read the transcripts below.

*MANDATORY CREDIT: THE CBS EVENING NEWS WITH NORAH O’DONNELL*

Read more on CBSNews.com here.

Rush transcripts below:

NORAH O’DONNELL: Article one alleges the president “will remain a threat to national security and the constitution if allowed to remain in office.” Are you confident that the president won’t seek foreign assistance again?

SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS: I believe that the president has learned from this case.

O’DONNELL: What do you believe the president has learned?

COLLINS: The president has been impeached. That’s a pretty big lesson. I’m voting to acquit. Because I do not believe that the behavior alleged reaches the high bar in the constitution for overturning an election and removing a duly elected president.

O’DONNELL: But the president says he did nothing wrong. Why do you think he learned something?

COLLINS: He was impeached. And there has been criticism by both Republican and Democratic senators of his call. I believe that he will be much more cautious in the future.

O’DONNELL: Was the president’s call a perfect call?

COLLINS: No. It was not. The president’s call was wrong. He should not have mentioned Joe Biden in it, despite his overall concern about corruption in Ukraine.

O’DONNELL: Why was it wrong for the president to mention the Bidens in that July phone call?

COLLINS: Because the president of the United States should not be asking a foreign country to investigate a political rival. That is just improper. It was far from a perfect call.

O’DONNELL: You’re up for reelection this year. Do you believe you will pay a political price for this vote?

COLLINS: I’m sure there are going to be people unhappy with me in Maine. All I can do is apply the constitutional standard. And that’s my job. My job is not to weigh the political consequences, but to do impartial justice to live up to the oath that I took.

* * *

Press Contact: