Sen. Collins Discloses Benign Essential Tremor
U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican seeking a sixth term at age 73, disclosed Wednesday that she has lived with a benign essential tremor for decades, a condition she said has no effect on her work.
Collins made the revelation in an interview with News Center Maine, stating, "I have had it for the entire time that I have served in the United States Senate. It has absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job or on how I feel each day." She described the tremor as occasionally inconvenient but manageable with medication, adding in a separate statement that it does not hinder her performance despite online comments to the contrary.
The disclosure followed scrutiny over recent videos showing Collins with visible shaking. One clip from a Fox News interview Tuesday at a food bank in Harrison, Maine, captured her hands and head trembling as she discussed her Democratic opponent during her reelection campaign. Another, from a February campaign ad, showed her unboxing sneakers with shaky hands and a quavering voice. Social media users questioned her health and fitness, with some noting similar instances dating back to at least 2019.
Medical experts described the condition...