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During his time in Congress, Doug Collins positioned himself as a partisan warrior, demonstrating unwavering loyalty to Donald Trump over all else. In 2020, Collins sparked controversy by accusing Democrats of being “in love with terrorists,” a remark for which he later apologized. Later that year, he played a prominent role in advancing Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud, which ultimately contributed to the January 6th Capitol riot. When it comes to veteran-specific issues, Collins is set to oversee the care of over 1 million LGBTQ+ veterans. However, his congressional record includes a consistent opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, including same-sex marriage. Furthermore, Collins violated basic Air Force regulations concerning campaign advertisements, despite prior warnings from the service branch. The VA requires a serious, dedicated leader who prioritizes the needs of all veterans—not one primarily aligned with Trump’s agenda. |
January 2020: Doug Collins Stated Democrats Were ‘In Love With Terrorists. They Mourn Solemani More Than They Mourn Our Gold Star Families.” According to USA TODAY, "'Nancy Pelosi does it again, and her Democrats fall right in line. One, they are in love with terrorists. They mourn Soleimani more than they mourn our Gold Star families who are the ones who suffered under Soleimani,' Collins said. He also accused Pelosi of hypocrisy for not taking a similar stand against the Obama administration's airstrikes in Libya in 2011. " [USA TODAY, 1/9/20]
Doug Collins “Regularly Argued Against LGBTQ+ Rights Efforts” Including Opposing Same-Sex Marriage. According to Military.com, "He also regularly argued against LGBTQ+ rights efforts, including contending a bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity to equal rights protections would 'destroy female sports, endanger vulnerable women and promote sterilization of children in a misguided bid to privilege the rights of a few over those of the vast majority of Americans.' And after the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 in favor of marriage rights for same-sex couples, Collins said he would 'strongly support a constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman.'" [Military.com, 11/18/24]
December 2019: Trump Lobbied Georgia Governor Brian Kemp To Appoint Collins To Fill A Vacant U.S. Senate Seat. According to Politico, “Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has begun informing Republican officials he plans to appoint financial services executive Kelly Loeffler to the state’s soon-to-be vacant Senate seat, according to three people familiar with the conversations. […] The choice could face serious backlash from conservatives. President Donald Trump has told Kemp he favors GOP Rep. Doug Collins, a staunch ally and the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, for the appointment. […] Trump and his allies had been pushing hard for Collins. Had he gotten the post, Collins could have been a potentially critical juror in any Senate impeachment trial, soon after he helps lead the case for Trump in the House.” [Politico, 12/1/19]
2020: “Collins Helped Push Trump’s Baseless Claims Of Widespread Voter Fraud In Georgia.” According to USA TODAY, "Following Trump's 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden, Collins helped push Trump's baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in Georgia, which Biden narrowly won over Trump. Collins led vote recount efforts in the state on Trump's behalf." [USA TODAY, 11/14/24]
2020: Doug Collins Signed Onto Amicus Brief That Contested The 2020 Election Results. According to CREW, "AFPI’s Georgia chapter is led by former Rep. Doug Collins, a longtime Trump ally and one of the 126 GOP House members who signed an amicus brief in the dismissed Supreme Court lawsuit that contested the 2020 presidential election results. Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the amicus 'election subversion,' and when Collins led the claims of fraud in Georgia, the state’s chief election official Brad Raffensperger called him a 'liar' and said he 'needs to answer to the voters why he never did anything for election reform' in Congress. " [CREW, 7/9/24]
2020: Despite A Warning From The U.S. Air Force, Collins Aired Campaign Ads Showing Him In Uniform Without The Required, Clearly Displayed Disclaimer. According to Military.com, “House Republican Doug Collins of Georgia has gotten a warning from the Air Force about a U.S. Senate campaign ad that shows him in uniform, but does not include the required disclaimer. Collins, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, was informed, along with his campaign team, about Defense Department regulations stating that candidates ‘may include photographs of themselves in military uniform in campaign materials when accompanied by a disclaimer,’ an Air Force Reserve spokesman said. ‘Congressman Collins and his campaign team are aware of the disclaimer requirements,’ the spokesman told Military.com. But several of the ads run by the campaign appear to lack a disclaimer, or have one that is difficult to read. […] Weinstein, a lawyer and Air Force veteran, charged Thursday that Collins was still running the ads in ‘blatant violation’ of DoD directives and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. ‘He has still not taken the ads down,’ Weinstein said, adding that he viewed the Air Force warning to Collins as inadequate.” [Military.com, 10/30/20]