Susan Collins Delivers a Blow to Controversial Biden ATF Nominee's Confirmation

Reagan McCarthy | June 22, 2021 2:45 PM

The confirmation of President Joe Biden’s nominee to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), David Chipman, received another blow on Tuesday. GOP Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who has voted for some of Biden’s nominees, announced that she will not support Chipman’s controversial nomination.

"After meeting with Mr. Chipman, listening to Mainers, and reviewing his record, I have decided to vote against Mr. Chipman’s nomination to serve as the ATF Director," Collins said in a statement, per Fox News. "In recent years, Mr. Chipman has been an outspoken critic of the firearms industry and has made statements that demean law-abiding gun owners."

The senator went on to criticize Chipman as a “divisive” pick who has potential to infringe on Second Amendment rights.

"Although he has the right to express his views, I believe this history makes him an unusually divisive pick for this important position. In particular, I am concerned that his confirmation would do significant damage to the collaborative working relationship that must exist between ATF, the firearms industry, sportsmen and women, and other law-abiding gun owners exercising their Second Amendment rights,” she continued.

Chipman was challenged last month by GOP Senators on the Judiciary Committee for his anti-Second Amendment rhetoric.