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.

Mamdani ripped after conceding key campaign pledge won’t happen this year

American Husband Arrested Days After His Wife Went Missing in the Bahamas

Putting Iran in Perspective: Have Americans Lost the Stomach to Fight Those Who Want Us Dead?

House Dem leaders open door to 25th Amendment after rank-and-file push for Trump’s removal

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche seeks death penalty for three MS-13 gang members

Rogue Dem bucks party on Trump war powers, calls Iran ‘47-year-old war crime’

Vulnerable Dem incumbent caught calling home state ‘stolen land’ in resurfaced video

Disney Set to Make Significant Layoffs as Fierce Competition Takes a Toll: Report

Despite Some GOP Claims, the ‘DIGNITY Act’ Is an Amnesty Bill and We’ve Got the Receipts to Prove It

Oklahoma principal shot in leg is praised for tackling school shooter: ‘He is a hero’

Philadelphia parking garage collapse leaves 1 dead, 2 missing

DC’s bid to block Trump’s National Guard deployment hits basic legal snag: Can’t sue itself

Spanberger ripped after taking credit for billions in investments secured under GOP predecessor: ‘Pathetic’

He’s Out! Disgraced Lawyer Michael Avenatti Moves to Hollywood Halfway House to Finish Prison Sentence

Five ways Mullin is already pushing DHS in a new direction

“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