He Was Trump’s First Fan in Congress. Now He’s a Felon.

What can I say? He's a despicable example of a greedy out-of-control capitalist!

The amazing thing is these guys actually don’t believe in government or the rule of law anymore. And neither, it seems do the folks who vote for them. Make America great again? Is this what that looks like? Elect criminals so they can steal us blind? I thought that was what other countries had, and were aspiring to get rid of? What I want to know is, do they know they’re doing something wrong, or do they genuinely think they’re great?

This is just Collins. My friends who worked for Erie County (while he was the County Executive) told me that he bought more than a quarter of a millions dollars of furniture while simultaneously laying off hundreds of workers.

Please don’t be gentle. Add criminal wrong doing.

No offense, but isn't it hypocritical to call out Collins, but not say a word about Hunter Biden? No one pays anyone over $50,000 a month when they have NO experience in the industry. Seems that all politicians take advantage, at least, of their role in government. That's why they become multi-millionaires over night. It should also be illegal for members of Congress to do inside trading, but they do it all the time. The problem we have is that it's up to Congress to police itself, propose laws like term-limits and exclusion from lobbyist firms post leaving office. Even Citzens United can be overturned in a heartbeat with legislation, but Congress isn't interested in giving up their money tree.

What's with this District and why do they keep electing horrendous people like Collins and Reynolds?

Is there anybody connected to Trump who is not a crook in some way?

Zero sympathy. Except to say what was this Trump lackey also guilty of? Thinking he would get away with it like countless others do from the financial crisis all the way to the top of the current White House. They are taught and assured money white power and privilege will keep you out of prison That has to stop right now America!

Chris Collin's timing on when to plead is impeccable. He expects to be sentenced before Trump leaves office looking for a Presidential Pardon.

Surprised? No. Disgusted? Yes. That's the bad news. Good news is that justice in this country has been served. Time for a presidential encore. Vote.

Nice to see someone who deserves it get his comeuppance. I'm usually not one for schadenfreude, but this is an exception.

Why do we not demand that our representatives be prohibited from these transactions from which they hold so much power? Right now I’d have to think that it is more common than not, and if “everyone is doing it” why would someone volunteer to be played for a sucker and not benefit from their position? I believe even Nancy Pelosi has holdings in the credit card companies. So prohibit that self dealing, and also prohibit-or at the very least, put a 5 year moratorium on becoming a lobbyist after holding office. These people are swamp denizens indeed.

Mob Family Values. Sad.

And another one gone, and another one gone Another one bites the dust....

Draining the swamp old crocodile Chris Collins climbed back for one more swim. He re-entered the race in 2018 knowing he was guilty. How low must the swamp creatures go? Power, party, and greed ahead of the good of his district and the constituents he was supposed to represent. The fake news was him. He was a fraud. He is not fit to be in office, and calling the honorable former congresswoman Louise Slaughter "despicable" is an out right lie. She was a microbiologist who served as a congresswomen from 1987 until her death in 2018 when was the oldest sitting member of congress. She served as the first woman to chair the House Rules Committee fin 2007, she was advocate for medical research, women's health, neurology and genetic rights, the lead House sponsor of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act In 1994, co-authored with Biden, the Violence Against Women Act, and ironically authored the STOCK Act, or Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act The law prohibits the use of non-public information for private profit, including insider trading by members of Congress and other government employees, and requires many financial transactions by members of Congress to be reported within 45 days. She introduced the legislation in 2006 and it was passed into law in 112th congress. As in 2018, I will once again support Democrat Nate McMurray in the special election. He, like Slaughter, has the moral compass to weather this storm.

Well done. Corrupt your son, daughter, and would be father-in-law. Family values!

Without judging this man for anything other than what he was convicted for we have to ask; would you make that call if your son stood to lose a 6 figure sum? I’m not sure I wouldn’t

Thank you to the late, great Louise Slaughter -- without her they would have probably buried the crime

Should not the report indicate if Collin's son is also looking at time in prison for insider trading?

What a surprise - who would have that a defender of conman trump would be a lier, corrupt and unfit for office? The line is getting longer of the people who put their toe in trumps cesspool and ended up covered with slime.

Birds of a feather...

Seems appropriate!

It is sad that he was re-elected even as this hung over his head. I hope he enjoys a cell with Manafort. Orange is the new black sir, and oh by the way, am I correct in saying he can no longer vote as a convicted felon? that would be justice

Investors do best when they invest in industries they know. Politicians do best when they subordinate greed to honor.

In both the Collins and Trump examples, family comes first. Heartwarming.

When the news first hit about his indictment i was sure there was yet another republican hypocrite who used power to his own personal gain. I was shocked that he won the re-election campaign in 2018. Just goes to show how folks can be swindled and want to believe the "huckster". It is a microcosm of national politics.

Mr. Collins verdict ought to be a warning to the vulgar bully currently occupying the White House, as he is in the same league, 'two birds of the same feather', both mafiosi intent in betraying our trust, and with 'crimes' seen only when considering themselves above the law. Both crooks, one caught red-handed, the other red-handed but 'protected', for now, by Republican minions guarding their miserable seats in Congress. Who said that Democracy can be a passive sport? Some of these miserable thugs in government can trample on us only when we remain complacent and looking the other way.

I live in the 27th Gerrymandered District and was "represented" by Chris Collins". I say "represented", because he never did anything for anyone in this district that wasn't about pushing Trump's agenda or his own clique of business donors a/k/a his "constituents". He has said repeatedly and with great pride that he would never hold a Town Meeting - actually he only met with people who agreed with him and gave him $$$ and ignored the rest. There even was a group of people who paid for a billboard on the highway near Buffalo, "Where's Waldo" style asking "Where's Chris"? Did he care? Nope, just acted as arrogant as ever. Yet... the people in this district re-elected him, despite being arrested and under investigation. Democrat Nate McMurray is going to try again to win the next election, but it will be tough. Hopefully, people out there will help to fund his campaign, because it will be an uphill battle.

With any luck, this is just the orchestra tuning up.

I wasn't aware until I read this article that Trump had a transition team.

Voting rights lost? If so, they miss the irony.

Another entitled self appointed genius gets tripped by greed. Join the long long list Mr. Collins.

What? Send this arrogant crime-boss to ten years of hard labor. That is the only way you will put an end to this. And what about Mister Price? Did he just walk away from his crimes? What about a thorough investigation of that ball of corruption? How many lies did he tell in his confirmation hearings? Unless we punish these crimes we will never stop them.

The ethics weren’t “murky”. Trading on inside information is ILLEGAL

Strange country: he was indicted yet people reelected him.

Since Barber Conable retired there have been 4 representatives from this district. Three of those four resigned. Reynolds, named in this article, because of his failure to deal with the Congressional Page scandal. Lee, for seeking dates on the web while in the buff. And now Collins for insider trading. The only only one who didn't resign is the sole Democrat, now Lieutenant Governor Hochul. See a pattern here? Collins avoided meeting his constituents unless they paid money to see him, rarely responded to constituent correspondence, and was in it only for himself. He owes a huge apology to the family of Louise Slaughter and to his former constituents who now have to foot the bill for a special election to fill the seat. He resigned, but it's been years since he actually represented us. All of this happened in the plain light of the day. None of this is a surprise.

Remember Tom Price, the Trump HHS secretary who was forced to resign for misappropriating public funds for personal gain? (He was also a former House rep, GA-6.) Well, like Mr. Collins, Mr. Price was also implicated in insider trading (although that has not yet been pursued or proven). And now, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is considering appointing Tom Price to fill the soon-to-be vacant Senate seat when Johnny Isakson retires. And he would then run for Senate election in 2020. As a Georgia voter, I hope Gov. Kemp does appoint Mr. Price. That will give Georgia voters a real choice in 2020: Trump corruption vs. an honest public servant. In 2018, all Democrats in statewide Georgia races won at least 48.5% of the vote. Tom Price for Senate might be a bridge too far for the honest people of Georgia, and might be enough to turn this red state blue.

What is it that these people don't understand about not using public office for private gain? That's what I was gonna say, anyway. Until I thought about it for about a nanosecond. They know just what they are doing. The crime is, they don't know the Constitution forbids it, or that they couldn't care less.

Many, many of us who live in the district are so relieved to be rid of Collins as our representative. He never held town halls or met with constituents in any way except to fund-raise. He was in office solely for his own power and ego. He was the perfect example of everything that a U.S. Representative should not be. Prison is where he belongs.

I hope that Mr. Collins fate is an indication of what will happen to Trump and the rest of his Administration. Collins and Trump seem to have the same lack of morals and character. Maybe their related?