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.

Trump allies building ‘lawfare’ defense apparatus before possible Democratic takeover

Judge Blocks Blue State from Making Nuns Perform Assisted Suicide But It’s Not Over Yet

House GOP not done with ActBlue after bombshell internal memos raise foreign cash questions

GOP takes aim at Congress’ next ‘get filthy rich’ loophole after stock-trading ban

Socialists are helping GOP campaigns heading into November

‘I am guilty’: How Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano keeps letting killers off with insanity pleas

Manhunt underway in California after armed suspect allegedly points gun at people, shoots at officers

Patrick Clancy in his own words: Top takeaways from grieving father’s first interview

Lindsay Clancy holdout juror makes new promise as lawyer warns of public attacks

Breaking: ICE Shooting Rocks Austin – Protesters Clash with Officers, Democrats Condemn Agency with Few Facts Available

ICE shooting rocks Austin as Democrat demands bodycam video, independent probe

Massachusetts’ plan to offer postpartum screening home visits sparks online debate

Cops flush homecoming prank plans after seizing 650 toilet paper rolls in ‘Operation Clean Sweep’

Trump to meet with Mamdani in New York amid high-stakes midterm push

White House reporter talks about Trump banning MS Now, Politico, and CNN

“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