Reactions from across Maine’s political landscape have been pouring in this weekend over a joint U.S/Israeli attack on Iran.
The strike, dubbed “Operation: Epic Fury” killed longtime Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and saw targets across the country’s capital being bombed.
In a statement, Maine Independent Senator Angus King questioned the timing and legal authority of the strikes, noting that diplomatic negotiations between the US and Iran appeared to be progressing. King warned that while toppling a regime is a first step, the lack of a clear endgame could lead to a “prolonged and destructive conflict” that puts American troops at unnecessary risk.
King’s colleague, Republican Senator Susan Collins, said that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and their support of terrorist groups pose serious threats to America’s national security. She also added that further combat operations require full engagement with Congress, and that important questions will be discussed in the Senate’s classified briefings with U.S officials next week.
Both of her major rivals for her Senate seat this year also spoke out, with Gov. Janet Mills calling the move a “reckless” escalation that bypasses the constitutional requirement to consult Congress. Mills warned that unilateral action puts American service members at risk and risks a “forever war” in the Middle East. She called on Senator Susan Collins to use her oversight power to demand answers from the Trump administration.
Mills’s democratic primary opponent Graham Platner also blasted the move, saying the attack makes the U.S a pariah on the international stage. Platner also questioned the motives behind the strike, claiming that Trump and was drumming up the war as a way to distract from his inclusion on the Epstein files.
Maine’s Representatives also joined in the critiques, with 1st District Representative Chellie Pingree heavily criticizing President Trump for the strikes. Pingree called it a “flagrant violation of the Constitution” due to it being carried out without Congressional authorization. She also called on House Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately reconvene Congress to take up a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to halt the unauthorized military action.
2nd District Democratic Representative Jared Golden also chimed in, saying it was “regrettable” that recent negotiations to halt Iran’s nuclear program have stalled, and that President Trump now has to justify his decision and clarify the administration’s goals. He also added that his chief concern is the safety and well-being of the men and women serving the United States in the region.
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