CLARENCE, N.Y. - There are just over 700,000 residents in the 27th Congressional District of New York and it takes in most suburban communities of Erie and Niagara Counties along with parts of Monroe and Ontario counties near Rochester and then Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans and Livingston counties.
From the Clarence Public Library to the district office of Representative Chris Collins in a suburban office park, it was a relatively quiet evening even as the political establishment is now roiling. Kevin Hardwick is a GOP member of the Erie County Legislature and Canisius College political science professor who feels his party leaders don't have much choice here. He says "As far as I can determine even his staff didn't know that this was gonna happen today. So there's shock. If the Republican powers that be determine that he's just un-electable - it's almost impossible to get him off the ballot."
So does this situation change Collins' ballot prospects ? 2 On Your Side I asked some folks in his home community of Clarence. Many were upset. One woman told us "For him to say today that he did nothing wrong is totally unacceptable." Another comment from one man "His actions...the way he's been behaving...I'm not pleased with him." And yet another pointed out "This is something he brought about...not something anybody else did. Reporter: Do you think he should step down?
Man: Yeah...that would be a good idea."
Finally we spoke to a man who has supported Collins in the past. Today he said "I would just wait and see as the judicial process plays itself out...again I voted for him...I'm a Republican and if he broke the law - he broke the law and if he didn't - he didn't."