Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah announced on Wednesday that he will vote to convict Pres. Donald Trump in the impeachment trial. This vote signifies a vote to remove Trump from office. Here’s the transcript of his speech (the video is below).
“The president delayed funds for an American ally at war with Russian invaders. The president’s purpose was personal and political. Accordingly, the president is guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust.
What he did was not “perfect.” No, it was a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security, and our fundamental values. Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.
In the last several weeks, I’ve received numerous calls and texts, many demanding in their words that I “stand with the team.” I can assure you that that thought has been very much in my mind. You see, I support a great deal of what the president has done. I’ve voted with him 80% of the time, but my promise before God to apply impartial justice required that I put my personal feelings and political biases aside.
Were I to ignore the evidence that has been presented and disregard what I believe my oath and the Constitution demands of me for the sake of a partisan end, it would, I fear, expose my character to history’s rebuke and the censor of my own conscience.
I’m aware that there are people in my party and in my state who will strenuously disapprove of my decision, and in some quarters, I will be vehemently denounced. I’m sure to hear abuse from the president and his supporters. Does anyone seriously believe that I would consent to these consequences other than from an inescapable conviction that my oath before God demanded it of me.”
Watch below.
FULL SPEECH: Sen. Romney says he will vote in favor of the article of impeachment on abuse of power against President Trump.
“With my vote, I will tell my children and their children that I did my duty to the best of my ability, believing that my country expected it of me.” pic.twitter.com/rOJBR8BJqw
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 5, 2020
Mitt Romney just made history as the first Senator to ever vote against a president of his own party in an impeachment trial.
