ATLANTA–Rep. Mike Collins and Sen. Jon Ossoff took the stage Tuesday night for the second time in a debate, exchanging fiery words and accusations.
The exchange comes following a debate last week where candidates clashed over affordability, healthcare, and more.
Collins spoke first, painting a picture of the stark contrast between him and Ossoff.
He said, “This is a race between Georgia and Georgetown. Somebody that has created jobs and opportunities right here in Georgia on this red clay versus a globe-trotting trust fund kid who got to the Senate, and then at every turn has voted to make our life less safe, more expensive, and worse off.”
Ossoff followed, saying, “Tonight we’re going to continue asking tough questions of Congressman Mike Collins. We’re going to pick up…and ask him…why he voted for the tariffs and the war and the healthcare cuts that have driven prices to record highs.”
Ossoff then listed other areas he sought to probe the congressman on.
Immigration, the Epstein files, and more were among the biggest takeaways from Tuesday night’s debate.
What Role Should Immigration Enforcement Play?
During the debate, Ossoff was questioned about the Laken Riley Act, and if he still “stand
Ossoff replied, “If you’re in the United States illegally and you commit a crime, you’ve got to leave. But look at what Mike Collins and Donald Trump have been doing. They’ve been rounding up people with no criminal history, with no criminal record.”
Collins answered the question next, highlighting the first piece of legislation that was signed by President [Donald] Trump during his second term, saying, “The Laken Riley Act has been responsible for removing over 20,000 illegal criminals from our streets, making this country safer.”
The Epstein Files Resurface
“Jon Ossoff’s been out there [at the border] running ads protecting children, paid for by one of Jeffrey Epstein’s friend
Ossoff was offered a rebuttal, and said, “You voted to cover up the Epstein files. When we took those votes, we knew that 14- and 15-year-old girls had been raped and trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices.”
“I voted to release those files,” Collins rebutted. “Jon Ossoff, his number one donor is Reid Hoffman, the same guy that sent ice cream to Jeffrey Epstein on his birthday and said, ‘This is for the girls.’”
The conversation came back to immigration and the legislation Collins championed. In a segment of the debate where candidates raised questions against each other, Collins asked Ossoff why he failed to help Laken Riley.
Ossoff replied, “Mike, you know I voted for the bill. You’re lying about a young woman’s death because your campaign is in collapse, and your campaign is in collapse because the whole state knows that you’re currently under federal investigation for the illegal misuse of tax dollars.”
Collins responded, “All he does is deflect. You want to know if he’d have been in the private sector, he’d have been fired because he was responsible for that young woman’s death. He allowed that border to stay open.”
Elections Take the Front Seat …
Throughout the course of the debate, elections and election integrity seemed to resurface.
Greg Bluestein of the Atlantic Journal-Constitution asked Collins if the “Trump administration [should] intervene in Georgia’s election system.”
Collins replied, “If they [Georgians] don’t have confidence in our elections, then we need to make sure that they do, and that needs to go for any state.”
He then explained Ossoff’s votes “against the SAVE Act,” which would help ensure voter ID across the nation.
Ossoff rebutted, saying, “Mike, we have voter ID in Georgia. The question is about election administration. You still haven’t answered tonight whether you believe Donald Trump actually won the 2020 election.”
Then, Collins replied, “He still hasn’t answered for the third time anything about Reid Hoffman. But I have said numerous times that Joe Biden was the president in 2021.”
Closing Thoughts for Voters
Collins offered his closing statement first, saying, “While I delivered the largest tax cuts in U.S. history, brought home more than $200 million for Georgia rural hospitals, and wrote the law, the Laken Riley Act, Jon Ossoff worked against us.”
Ossoff responded, “I want you to know that I will always stand up to powerful interests on your behalf.”
Early voting in Georgia started on Tuesday, with Election Day closely approaching on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Watch the full debate online here.
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[ H/T The Daily Signal ]
