Breaking with Republicans, Romney votes 'guilty' in Trump impeachment trial

By Richard Cowan

 

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney announces his intention to vote to convict U.S. president Donald Trump for abuse of power during Senate debate ahead of the resumption and final vote in the Trump impeachment trial in this frame grab from video shot in the Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 5, 2020. U.S. Senate TV/Handout via Reuters

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator Mitt Romney issued a scathing criticism of Donald Trump on Wednesday as he broke with his party and voted to convict the U.S. president for abuse of power in his impeachment trial.

 

Romney was the only lawmaker to break with his party as the Senate acquitted Trump on impeachment charges stemming from his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to face Trump in the Nov. 3 election.

 

"Corrupting an election to keep one's self in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one's oath of office that I can imagine," Romney said in an emotional speech on the Senate floor.

 

Romney voted 'guilty' on the first impeachment charge, abuse of power, siding with the Senate's 45 Democrats and two independents. He voted 'not guilty' on the second charge, obstruction of Congress.

 

He is the first senator in U.S. history to vote to convict a member of his own party in an impeachment trial. President Bill Clinton was impeached in 1999 and Andrew Johnson in 1868.

 

Romney was the Republican presidential nominee in 2012 and was elected to represent Utah in the Senate in 2018.

 

Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., said Romney should be expelled from the Republican party. "He was too weak to beat the Democrats then so he’s joining them now," he wrote on Twitter.

 

In an emotional speech in the U.S. Senate Wednesday, Senator Mitt Romney said that what President Donald Trump did in Ukraine was "grievously wrong" and warranted removal from office.

 

A former governor of Massachusetts, Romney won his 2018 Senate election with a comfortable 63 percent of the vote. Up for re-election in 2024, he could conceivably face a Republican primary challenge in Utah.

 

"He understands the consequences and made the decision that he felt right,” said Ryan Williams, who worked on Romney's 2012 presidential bid.

 

At the start of his floor speech, Romney had to pause as he appeared to choke back tears when he noted that as a Mormon, "I am profoundly religious. My faith is at the heart of who I am."

 

Romney, 72, served as a missionary in France as a young man and served as a church leader when he lived in Boston. He has generally downplayed his faith in his political career.

 

"The president is guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust," Romney declared.

 

Referring to Trump's contention that he has conducted himself in a "perfect" manner, Romney said, "What he did was not perfect. No, it was a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security and our fundamental values."

 

This was not the first time Romney and Trump have tangled.

 

In a tweet last year, the president called Romney a "pompous ass" after he criticized Trump for urging Ukraine to investigate Biden.

 

Romney criticized Trump as a "fraud" during the 2016 presidential campaign, but met with Trump after his victory as he was looking to fill top administration jobs. Trump ended up not hiring Romney for any position.

 

For a graphic on Impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump:

 

https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-TRUMP-WHISTLEBLOWER/0100B2EZ1MK/index.html 

 

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert, Richard Cowan, David Morgan, Lawrence Hurley and Susan Cornwell; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Jonathan Oatis and Sonya Hepinstall)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-06

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Poor Mitt... I sense some crazy jealousy going on here. But really, who cares? He didn't change anything. The justice system has spoken.

 

The bar for impeachment and removal is intentionally high. The partisan impeachment simply didn't meet the height required.

 

Life is good.

1 minute ago, Crazy Alex said:

Poor Mitt... I sense some crazy jealousy going on here. But really, who cares? He didn't change anything. The justice system has spoken.

 

The bar for impeachment and removal is intentionally high. The partisan impeachment simply didn't meet the height required.

 

Life is good.

He did change something

 

The first time in US history a vote to remove a president has received bipartisan votes.

 

And once again, this impeachment is nothing to do with ‘the justice system’.

 

The witnesses and evidence the GOP Senators refused to hear will be heard.

 

The GOP Senators have now made the bed they must lie in.

 

Roll on November.

An off topic trolling comment has been removed. 

Mitt Romney is the weird estranged member of the Adam's family. 

Wow, a Republican with a backbone. I didn't think they existed anymore.

The only GOP Senator with the balls to do the right thing for the US , will he run against Trump in the election ?

Who is left with the bill for all those high priced lawyers,?

I doubt Trump would pay,so is it left up to the American Taxpayers.

Innocent....only in name

regards Worgeordie

Finally a republican with principals you sir have my respect a courageous stand now there is potus material!

46 minutes ago, Crazy Alex said:

Poor Mitt... I sense some crazy jealousy going on here. But really, who cares? He didn't change anything. The justice system has spoken.

 

The bar for impeachment and removal is intentionally high. The partisan impeachment simply didn't meet the height required.

 

Life is good.

Repeat the most critical and most undemocratic word in your post;  'partisan'. 

 

 

30 minutes ago, keith101 said:

The only GOP Senator with the balls to do the right thing for the US , will he run against Trump in the election ?

Better if he had won in 2012 then the crook in the WH now would have never had soiled the office 

A brave man, making an enemy of the most powerful man on the planet who now has a license to do anything he wants. 

I never much liked the man but today he stands 10' tall and has my respect.

He's got binders full of courage.

Romney is still smarting from getting his butt kicked when he ran for President...if John McCain were still alive...he would have voted to impeach for the same reason...sour grapes...they both strongly dislike the President and have voted accordingly...

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

He did change something

The first time in US history a vote to remove a president has received bipartisan votes.

And once again, this impeachment is nothing to do with ‘the justice system’.

The witnesses and evidence the GOP Senators refused to hear will be heard.

The GOP Senators have now made the bed they must lie in.

Roll on November.

Chomper you are making false statements again.  5 Dems voted Guilty for Clinton.

But you are right about one thing - Roll on November and the destruction of the Dems as a Party.

 

9 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

Chomper you are making false statements again.  5 Dems voted Guilty for Clinton.

But you are right about one thing - Roll on November and the destruction of the Dems as a Party.

 

No, you are wrong:
 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/05/no-senator-ever-voted-remove-president-his-party-office-until-mitt-romney/

 

After spending his own money on adverts against Trump......he then rolls up for an interview to try to secure a job under him.......yes he certainly is a man of principle..........

Donald Trump Gives Mitt Romney a Second Interview for Diplomatic Post---

https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-gives-mitt-romney-a-second-interview-for-diplomatic-post-1480379550

I wonder how much Mitt relies on Lobbyist money. That might be part of the reason he did this too. His or his wife's family is wealthy. So many in Washington cower in fear of losing financial support for one reason or another.

1 hour ago, gargamon said:

Wow, a Republican with a backbone. I didn't think they existed anymore.

Yes, courageous, knowing full well the vicious blowback he will receive from Trump and his minions.  History will be kind to Romney.  Not so much for the other spineless Republicans currently occupying the US Senate. 

2 hours ago, Crazy Alex said:

Poor Mitt... I sense some crazy jealousy going on here. But really, who cares? He didn't change anything.

Romney has recorded that speech and vote for all of history. In years to come, people will question this acquittal and note he was a man of courage in this instance to stand up to a President who uses fear and ridicule and mob boss tactics to keep his power.

 

Trump's Jr's comments give insight that Trump has autocratic ambitions. Stop free thinkers however he can. In most democracies, people are not vilified for having independent thought. In Trump's world you are.

 

 

Edited February 6, 20206 yr by Farangwithaplan

26 minutes ago, TooBigToFit said:

So many in Washington cower in fear of losing financial support for one reason or another.

Last week I was reading something about how Mitch had control of a big pile of $$$ provided to the GOP by donors.  Fall out of favor with him and you're no longer a recipient.

 

8 minutes ago, Farangwithaplan said:

Trump's Jr's comments give insight that Trump has autocratic ambitions. Stop free thinkers however he can. In most democracies, people are not vilified for having independent thought. In Trump's world you are.

Don Jr 2024?

 

 

Edited February 6, 20206 yr by bendejo

14 minutes ago, TooBigToFit said:

I wonder how much Mitt relies on Lobbyist money. That might be part of the reason he did this too. His or his wife's family is wealthy. So many in Washington cower in fear of losing financial support for one reason or another.

I suspect independence from lobby money allowed him to vote for Trump’s removal.

 

He has no reason to close his eyes to Trump’s egregious criminality.

 

Also of note, Romney is not facing an election this November, unlike 23 of his fellow GOP Senators, many of whom are vulnerable to removal, including Mitch McConnell.

12 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

Yes, courageous, knowing full well the vicious blowback he will receive from Trump and his minions.  History will be kind to Romney.  Not so much for the other spineless Republicans currently occupying the US Senate. 

I think Trump and his son have lashed out with viscous online memes.

 

Romney must be terrified.

How's this?

Mitt goes over to the Dems and runs for president.

 

 

*yawn*

 

Anyone surprised or patting Mitt on the back for his vote hasn't been paying attention.  All predictable.  I've come to call him McRomney -- after the maverick Dem hero McCain.  Romney is continuing the backstabbing tradition of GOPe Mush, and it was no surprise to me.  Almost all of the GOP establishment mush is being flushed out of the party.

 

And even before his vote, Romney faces state legislation in Utah that is calling for a voter referendum that will allow for the recall of US Senators.  Only a few states have such an instrument for removal.  That could finally be the political legacy that he earns, but not the one for which he aspired.

1 hour ago, AussieBob18 said:

Chomper you are making false statements again.  5 Dems voted Guilty for Clinton.

But you are right about one thing - Roll on November and the destruction of the Dems as a Party.

 

You have been corrected again. But maybe you have a better source than the one contradicting you? Or were you simply wrong?

Romney wouldn’t be seeking re-election in a purple state. Smart. He is not vulnerable to the dangerous currents of criminality and intrigue swirling about the WH emboldened by Trump’s acquittal. His less principled colleagues will have to live under Trump’s corruption and authoritarianism. 

33 minutes ago, bendejo said:

Last week I was reading something about how Mitch had control of a big pile of $$$ provided to the GOP by donors.  Fall out of favor with him and you're no longer a recipient.

 

Don Jr 2024?

 

 

Personally, it wouldn't surprise me if Trump were to lose the next election that he would refuse to relinquish the post. Likewise if he did win 2020 that he will attempt to hold on to power past 2 terms. Who is going to attempt to stop him from doing so now? His party have given him a mandate to do what he wants and to hide whatever he wants to hide from overseeing eyes.

 

Trump will face a wall of legal issues when he is no longer the president. I imagine he will do whatever he can to stay hidden behind that immunity.

 

 

3 hours ago, Crazy Alex said:

Poor Mitt... I sense some crazy jealousy going on here. But really, who cares? He didn't change anything. The justice system has spoken.

 

Margaret Chase Smith, 1950.

 

https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/SmithDeclaration.pdf

 

"A Declaration of Conscience"

 

https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/A_Declaration_of_Conscience.htm

 

 

The link between McCarthy and Trump is, of course, a shady lawyer - Roy Cohn - shocker.

 

 

 

Edited February 6, 20206 yr by mtls2005