Rep. Chris Collins' indictment on felony insider trading charges hasn't stopped three prominent conservative groups that have backed him for years from continuing to do so.
Since Collins' Aug. 8 indictment, the National Rifle Association gave the Clarence Republican an A+ rating. The National Federation of Independent Business, which endorsed Collins before his indictment, this fall gave him its Guardian of Small Business Award. And the New York State Right to Life Committee offered Collins a glowing endorsement.
"Our fellow New Yorkers depend on steadfast legislators such as you to protect the fundamental right to life, and we are heartened by your commitment to this basic human right," Christina Fadden Fitch, who chairs the state anti-abortion group's board, said in an Oct. 1 letter to Collins. "We wish you a successful campaign and look forward to working together with you in the future."
Of course that won't happen if Collins loses to Democrat Nate McMurray in the hotly contested race in New York's 27th District, or if Collins resigns from Congress either before or after his February 2020 criminal trial.
But Collins is contesting the charges against him and waging an aggressive campaign, and his longtime allies appear happy to help.
The NRA endorsed Collins and made him the only lawmaker in New York State with an A+ rating.
“An ‘A+’ is reserved for a legislator with not only an excellent voting record on all critical NRA issues, but who has also made a vigorous effort to promote and defend the Second Amendment,” the NRA said.
Collins had done just that. He's been pushing a bill called the Second Amendment Guarantee Act. And while it has not come close to passing, it's a
