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.

SCOOP: Trump ally Kid Rock jumps into key governor’s race with high-profile endorsement

The world’s top nuclear powers have no arsenal limits, here are the countries with nukes

Affirmative Action Quotas in Question as Female, Minority Pilots Caused Half of Pilot-Error Crashes

The single crushing problem American cattle ranchers wish Trump would fix instead

‘The View’ Under FCC Investigation Over Interview with Texas Dem

‘We Will Pay’: Savannah Guthrie Responds to Kidnapper Demands Via Video

Turning Point USA’s ‘All-American Halftime Show’: Everything you need to know

American Skiers Buried Under Avalanche of Criticism Over Anti-ICE Comments

Super Bowl Sunday: Here are some of the political, social commercials you can expect during the big game

Op-Ed: In a Politically Divided America, Where Does Relocation Fit In?

LA city councilwoman previously backed by DSA running for mayor in primary challenge to former ally Bass

Details on Maine Plane Crash Victims Released: They Were Researching up to $30k-per-Night Destination for Wealthy Travelers

Chief CNN Analyst: Not One Racial Group in America Is Falling for the Dems’ Lies on Voter ID Laws

Tom Homan Reveals How Many Anti-ICE Agitators Have Been Arrested: Many Are Paying the Price

Newsom Devastated By Mom’s Suicide, Still Wants To Let Your Mother Kill Herself

“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