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.

Former Capitol Police officer running for Congress in different district than failed 2024 bid

Federal judge grills DOJ lawyers over censure of Democratic senator

Video: Joy Behar Compares Cities Church to Dachau Concentration Camp Where Jews Were Frozen Alive – Single Most Evil Thing Ever Said on ‘The View’

Patriots QB Drake Maye Quotes Bible at Super Bowl Media Day, Hopes to Lead Others to Jesus

Vote ‘no’ but take the dough: Senate Democrats claim credit for bill they opposed

Newsom’s PAC takes cash from firm promising to win state contracts for clients

Judge rules federal agents must limit tear gas at protests near Portland ICE building

Trump admin sued by New York, New Jersey over Hudson River tunnel funding freeze: ‘See you in court’

Girl, 12, dangles from ski chairlift in California before crashing to ground in terrifying video

White House approves Medal of Honor for fallen Army Staff Sgt Michael Ollis after years-long push

Lawmakers probe National FFA over Chinese Communist Party ties and DEI programs

Mamdani calls on DA to not prosecute mentally ill man shot by police during knife attack

Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Tim Burchett Drop SAVE Act Demands After Meeting with Trump

Trump reacts to NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mother Nancy’s mysterious abduction

Op-Ed: Trump is a Performer – Let Him Perform

“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