Mitt Romney will vote to convict Trump on abuse of power

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published 5 February 2020

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) will vote to convict President Trump of one impeachment charge against him.

Romney will vote to convict Trump of abuse of power but to acquit him of obstruction of Congress, he announced ahead of the official vote Wednesday. "I think the case was made," he told The New York Times in an interview, apparently "appearing by turns relieved and nervous — but also determined."

"I believe that attempting to corrupt an election to maintain power is about as egregious an assault on the Constitution as can be made," Romney continued. "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."

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So far, Romney is the only Republican who's said he will break from his party. Moderate Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) confirmed earlier this week they'd vote to acquit Trump even though Collins had earlier sided with Romney in voting to call former National Security Adviser John Bolton as a witness in the Senate impeachment trial. Moderate Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin (W.V.) said he was undecided on impeachment earlier this week.

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Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.