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.

Fight for Los Angeles mayor tightens up as Karen Bass, Spencer Pratt, and Nithya Raman make final pitch

Dem Mayor Offers Support to ‘Trans Period’ Event Featuring Free Undies

California GOP incumbents go to war in Trump loyalty test

Dem Gov Gets Rare Conservative Credit, Then Blows It With Embarrassing Victim Routine

NYC landlord pleads for help as ‘9-year-squatter’ continues to drain him dry in court saga: ‘Twilight Zone’

One southern city you’ve never heard of is growing faster than anywhere else in America

Retiring Senate Democrats open door to anti-filibuster successors

Ex-Iowa school superintendent sentenced to prison as an illegal alien found with firearms

Elderly couple fatally stabbed inside Queens apartment, no arrests made as investigation continues: report

ICE arrests illegal alien who allegedly faked asylum claim based on homosexuality, became Indiana jail officer

Hasan Piker says UK has barred him, trashes ‘unbelievable…power’ of pro-Israel groups

Pratt rallies supporters as Los Angeles mayoral race enters final stretch

Left-wing streamer blasts New Jersey governor over state police response at ICE facility protests

Man who warned coworkers ‘no one’s going home today’ gets prison term in fatal shooting

Scott Peterson’s longtime lawyer claims ‘new’ evidence could force courts to revisit his murder conviction

“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