AUGUSTA — Maine Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King are heading to Guantanamo Bay to review the detention center there.

Collins, a Republican, and King, an Independent, are among a bipartisan group of seven lawmakers traveling to the U.S. military base in Cuba on Friday.

The senators’ offices called the trip a “fact-finding oversight mission” designed to ensure the government is doing “everything possible to protect the safety of Americans” and that taxpayer dollars aren’t being wasted.

The two are being joined by West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk, Hawaii Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz, Delaware Democratic Sen. Chris Coons and Indiana Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly.

The group’s plans include examining the facilities, legal status of those being detained there and the process for trying the prisoners.


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