Susan Collins drops brutal reminder of Maine Dem rival rocked by assault accusations

Key Points:

• Republican Sen. Susan Collins criticized her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, for allegedly struggling to control his temper following the resurfacing of a 1988 police report accusing Jackson of assault and pushing his longtime partner during a confrontation.
• Jackson, who replaced Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee after Platner dropped out amid rape allegations, acknowledged the 1988 fight but denied ever being violent toward his partner, emphasizing his growth and advocacy over the past four decades.
• The police report details a physical altercation where Jackson reportedly kicked in a door and assaulted another man, while his partner at the time, Lana Pelletier, who now denies statements attributed to her, said the personal attacks on her family are unacceptable.
• The Republican National Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee have used the incident to question Jackson’s suitability for office and urged Democratic leaders to call for his withdrawal from the race.
• Jackson’s campaign and supporters argue he has been thoroughly vetted and focus on his progressive platform targeting working-class voters, including support for Medicare-for-all and opposition to military aid to Israel, while Democrats face concerns over the vetting process following Platner’s scandal.