Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, seen at a groundbreaking in Sanford in March, says she has had an essential tremor throughout her career in the Senate. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine disclosed this week that she has had an essential tremor throughout her career in the Senate.
“This benign condition, which affects approximately 1 in 20 people over the age of 40, does not interfere at all with my ability to do my job,” Collins, 73, said in a statement to the Press Herald Wednesday evening.
Collins, who has served in the Senate since 1996, first disclosed the condition to a WCSH reporter this week.
In her statement, the Republican noted the tremor is “occasionally inconvenient” and has been the topic of “cruel comments online,” but said “it does not hinder my ability” to perform as a U.S. senator.
Both Collins and Graham Platner, a veteran who is the presumptive Democratic nominee to take on the Republican for her seat in November, have recently been ridiculed on social media relating to their health.
While the tremors were the subject of comments about Collins, some have questioned Platner’s 100% disability rating.
Drew is the night reporter for the Portland Press Herald. He previously covered South Portland, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth for the Sentry, Leader and Southern Forecaster. Though he is from Massachusetts,…
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