ALL NEWS

Sen. Mitt Romney: President Trump is guilty of high crimes, misdemeanors

Feb 5, 2020, 12:11 PM | Updated: 12:56 pm

Sen. Romney reportedly recovering from fall over weekend...

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 24: Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) stands in a hallway near the Senate chamber in the U.S. Capitol on January 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — Sen. Mitt Romney announced Wednesday he is voting against party lines, saying he will convict President Donald Trump in the impeachment trial.

In December 2019, President Trump was officially charged with two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Romney said he would vote ‘guilty’ on the abuse of power, but not on the count of obstruction.

Romney said he believes Trump is guilty of the charges presented in the articles of impeachment written by the House of Representatives. Romney added that he believes the act was extreme enough to rise to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor.

Senators took an oath

Romney said the allegations made against Trump were serious, and he — along with his fellow senators — took an oath to exercise impartial judgment.

His statement took an emotional turn, with Romney stating he is a religious man. He said his religion is at the heart of who he is, and that he took an oath before God to judge the president fairly.

When the House of Representatives delivered the articles of impeachment to the Senate in January, Romney said he knew it would be one of the most difficult decisions he would have to make.

“I was right,” he said.

He said he approached the trial with impartiality, voting for more John Bolton as a witness to gain more clarity. In fact, he said he hoped Bolton’s testimony would create reasonable doubt in the trial.

The Senate presented three arguments of defense

Romney said the Senate provided three arguments in defense of President Trump: it wasn’t a statutory crime, Joe Biden’s conflict of interest in Ukraine justified the president’s actions and the decision whether to remove President Trump from office should be up to the voters.

Romney said while Biden’s actions were a conflict of interest and he should’ve recused himself, it wasn’t wrong. While Hunter Biden’s use of his father’s name to gain an advantage was “unsavory,” Romney said, it wasn’t a crime.

Romney said the things President Trump did was done because of personal feelings and political biases. Had the name “Biden” not been involved, he said, President Trump wouldn’t have done what he did.

While the argument to let voters decide whether to remove the president from office sounds appealing in a democracy, Romney said, it’s inconsistent with the constitution. It’s up to the senators to decide — which was intended by the founders to minimize the partisanship of the country in the vote.

He said voters will get their chance to make the decision when they vote to keep or remove their senators.

Guilty of “high crimes and misdemeanors”

Romney said he believes President Trump’s actions rise to the level of high crime and misdemeanors because of his withholding of federal aid to an ally at war.

He said that he has often stood with President Trump in several decisions and legislation. But, he must put aside his personal feelings and political biases to make an impartial decision.

Romney acknowledged his vote may be in the minority, and it likely won’t remove the president from office. However, he said he trusts his colleagues will also vote according to their conscience rather than party lines.

Romney will hold a phone call to address voters later today.

 

This story is breaking and will be updated. 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

All News

The steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on top of the container ship Dali after the br...

Nick Perry

Baltimore bridge collapse puts the highly specialized role of ship’s pilot under the spotlight

The highly specialized role — in which a pilot temporarily takes control of a ship from its regular captain — is coming under the spotlight this week.

7 hours ago

Shopping carts are parked outside a Home Depot in Philadelphia...

MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer

Home Depot buying supplier to professional contractors in a deal valued at about $18.25 billion

Home Depot will buy SRS Distribution, a materials provider for professionals, in a deal valued at approximately $18.25 billion.

8 hours ago

Killer Mike poses in the press room with three trophies he won at the 66th annual Grammy Awards on ...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

Recent Grammy winners highlight Ogden Twilight Concert Series lineup

Hip hop star Michael Render, known by his stage name Killer Mike, fresh off of three Grammy Award wins last month, is one of several musical artists set to headline this year's Ogden Twilight Concert Series.

9 hours ago

"Burn Book," by longtime Silicon Valley reporter Kara Swisher is seen, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Sa...

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Telling tales about tech bros

Kara Swisher’s new book paints an ugly picture of Silicon Valley.

11 hours ago

pets...

Curt Gresseth

Don’t surrender pets to a shelter. Send in a pro to reverse bad behavior, says Utah trainer

An expert discusses controlling the unwanted behavior of pets.

11 hours ago

Exclusive video obtained by KSL NewsRadio shows Salt Lake hit-and-run in the Avenues neighborhood. ...

Eric Cabrera

WATCH: Exclusive video shows woman survives Salt Lake City hit and run

KSL NewsRadio has exclusively obtained footage of a Salt Lake City hit-and-run, where a woman was struck while out for a run in the Avenues.

11 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Sen. Mitt Romney: President Trump is guilty of high crimes, misdemeanors