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.

Breaking: Shots Reportedly Fired at WH Correspondents Dinner, Trump and Melania Rushed Out

King Charles to meet Mamdani in New York during US state visit next week

Trump vows to ‘get to the bottom’ of Fed’s multibillion-dollar building renovation after probe shift

Winery belonging to Ilhan Omar’s husband shut down amid financial spotlight

Broad Wording in Trump Admin’s Psychedelic Push Could Endanger Most Vulnerable Mentally Ill

Pope Backfire: Trump’s Support Among Catholics Went Up After Trump Fired Back at Pope Leo

Ilhan Omar Husband’s Winery Suspiciously Shutters After Investigation Is Launched Into Her Finances

Chicago hospital shooting leaves 2 officers injured, 1 critically; suspect in custody: report

Trump cancels Witkoff, Kushner’s Pakistan trip for Iran talks, says regime is suffering from ‘infighting’

Suspect who fled US arrested in caught-on-camera killing of 15-year-old in NYC park

Breaking: Trump Pulls Plug on Iran Talks as US Seizes Iran Ships, Strengthens Blockade – ‘We Have All the Cards’

FLASHBACK: Obama tried to make Trump a punchline at 2011 dinner before rise stunned Washington

Trump cancels Witkoff and Kushner’s trip to Pakistan for Iran negotiations

Trans Substitute Teacher Arrested for Allegedly Planning ‘Murder Spree’ at High School

U.S. Government Monitors as British Authorities Prosecute Christian Pastor Who Quoted John 3:16

“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