Five protesters who refused to leave Maine Sen. Susan Collins' Bangor office over her support for the overhaul of the tax code have been arrested on a trespassing charge.
The Bangor Daily News reports 66-year-old Jim Betts, of Winthrop, said Monday from inside Collins' office the group was staying to talk to the Republican senator. He said he's shocked Collins would buy into the tax bill.
Police said they got a call at about 6 p.m. from the Federal Protective Services, a division of Homeland Security which runs the federal building Collins' office is located, saying the group refused to leave and asked them to arrest protesters.
A police officer read a dispersal order; one person left. Five stayed and were peacefully taken to jail. They were charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass.
Collins supported the bill after inclusion of her amendments on medical expense and property tax deductions.
