Mitt Romney Says He ‘Agonized’ over Impeachment: ‘I Hoped Beyond Hope’ I Wouldn’t Find Him Guilty

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), who voted to convict President Trump for abuse of power last week, claimed on Sunday that he “agonized” over the responsibility that came with his decision and said he had “hoped beyond hope” he would not find President Trump guilty.

Speaking to KSL’s Sunday Edition during the weekend, Romney, who asserted last week that the president “committed an act so extreme and egregious that it rises to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor,” said he “agonized over the responsibility that ultimately would come [his] way” and proclaimed that he “hoped beyond hope” he would not find Trump guilty.

“Well, I took my responsibility exactly as the Constitution defines it and as the oath I took requires it,” Romney told KSL’s Doug Wright, again citing his oath before God, “which is what I was sworn before God to apply impartial justice as a Senate juror.”

The Utah senator continued to defend his decision, proclaiming that he “thoroughly studied” the evidence, which moved him to vote to convict the president.

New Jersey governor, Democratic senator spend Memorial Day protesting ICE facility

Sex Trafficking: More Disastrous Graham Platner Comments Surface as Dem Buyers Regret Reaches New High

Hollywood Ignored the ‘Project Hail Mary’ Blueprint as ‘Star Wars’ Stumbles and Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ Looks Headed for Trouble

Tim Walz’ Gun-Control Bill Goes Down In Flames Despite Dems’ Sit-In Protest

Rubio pushes back on India’s concerns over US visa curbs, says policy must be ‘America First’ under Trump

Parents Revolt After College Tries Surveillance Experiment On Kids, Report Shows

Vets torch Dem Senate hopeful who called Army ‘fat, lazy trash,’ mocked soldier shot four times

Omar confronted on camera over GOP proposal targeting foreign-born lawmakers: ‘Good luck to her’

UFO insider claims US has bodies of 4 different alien species from downed spacecraft in government custody

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Marine vet prosecutor refuses to cross constitutional line on Spanberger ‘assault weapon’ ban

GOP senators spurn anti-weaponization fund payout for phone data seizure: ‘I don’t need any compensation’

Operation Benjamin: Restoring fallen soldiers’ lost Stars of David

Baby pulled from vehicle trapped in raging floodwaters in dramatic rescue caught on video

Teen sailor killed aboard USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor identified after 82 years through DNA analysis

Stampede erupts at South Carolina biker festival, 19 injured in late-night chaos

“I agonized over the responsibility that ultimately would come my way,” Romney said. “I hoped beyond hope that I would not have to find him guilty of what had been alleged.”

“They didn’t want to provide any information for those of us who were having a responsibility to provide impartial justice,” Romney said of the refusal to allow additional witnesses to testify.

He also attributed his decision to “family tradition,” citing his dad, whom he described as “a person who stood by his word and did exactly what he thought was right regardless of the consequence.”

“And that is a family tradition which I hold dear,” he said.

“I did believe that I was doing exactly what I swore I would do,” he added.

Romney’s decision to convict the president earned him high praise from high-profile Democrats, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who praised her colleague’s “courage” during Friday’s Democrat debate in New Hampshire.

“There was a lot of courage you saw from very few people,” Klobuchar said. “There was courage from Doug Jones, our friends from Alabama that took that tough vote. There was courage from Mitt Romney, who took a very, very difficult vote”:

Amy Klobuchar knocks idea of being a "cool newcomer": "We have a newcomer in the White House, and look where it got us. I think having some experience is a good thing." https://t.co/Rhy9aOaDTU #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/cqusxWYJfl

— ABC News (@ABC) February 8, 2020