Susan Collins Hasn't Learned Her Lesson When It Comes to Trump

Although Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins says it is "unlikely" she will support Donald Trump's likely 2024 bid for the White House but she would not rule it out in an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News This Week:

STEPHANOPOULOS: The events in the aftermath of the 2020 election show how important that is. As you're working on this reform, former President Trump is out on the campaign trail. He was out in Texas last night suggesting he may pardon those -- if he were elected in 2024 -- those who were part of the January 6th riots. Given that, can you imagine any circumstances where you could support his election in 2024?

COLLINS: Well, we're a long ways from 2024. But let me say this, I do not think the president should have made -- that President Trump should have made that pledge to do pardons. We should let the judicial process proceed.

STEPHANOPOULOS: You say we're a long way away from --

COLLINS: January 6th was a dark day in our history.

STEPHANOPOULOS: It was. And you voted to convict President Trump as well. Why can't you rule out supporting him in 2024?

COLLINS: Well, certainly it's not likely given the many other qualified candidates that we have that have expressed interest in running. So it's very unlikely.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator Collins, thanks for your time this morning.

COLLINS: Thank you.

Collins' answer is wholly inadequate. Stephanopoulos also missed an opportunity to ask a follow up question.

Let's start with Collins. Given that Collins acknowledges January 6th was a dark day in our history, voted to impeach Trump for his role in the events of January 6th and further acknowledges that it was wrong for Trump to offer pardons to January 6th rioters as he did last night at a campaign rally in Texas, it would behoove Collins to tell us why she cannot unequivocally rule out supporting Trump.

Now this is where Stephanopoulos comes in. Only yesterday, Arkansas Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson, who is also Chairman of the National Governors Association, said, "I do not believe Trump is the one to lead our party and our country again, as president." Stephanopoulos could have simply asked Collins if she agreed with Hutchinson's statement.

Naturally, even if Stephanopoulos did pose that question there's a good chance that Collins wouldn't unequivocally endorse Hutchinson's statement. In which case, this would tell us that Susan Collins has not learned her lesson when it comes to defeated former President Donald Trump.