Mitt Romney (R-UT), the last wildcard Republican, has announced he will vote to convict on one President Trump. This decision stands in contrast to the other wildcard Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) who have both decided to vote to acquit. So far Romney is the only Senator to break from party lines.
The New York Times reported:
The Senate is expected to vote at 4 p.m. Eastern to acquit President Trump in his impeachment trial. Senator Mitt Romney plans to vote to convict Mr. Trump of abuse of power, becoming the first Republican to support removing Mr. Trump from office.
I think the case was made,” Mr. Romney said in an interview in his Senate office on Wednesday morning. At the beginning of his speech in the chamber, he appeared to choke up.
Mr. Romney said he would vote against the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress, arguing that House Democrats had failed to exhaust their legal options for securing testimony and other evidence they had sought. But the first-term senator said that Democrats had proven their first charge, that the president had misused his office for his own personal gain.
I believe that attempting to corrupt an election to maintain power is about as egregious an assault on the Constitution as can be made,” Mr. Romney added, appearing by turns relieved and nervous — but also determined — as he explained his decision. “And for that reason, it is a high crime and misdemeanor, and I have no choice under the oath that I took but to express that conclusion.”
You can see Romeny full speech from the Senate floor below:
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