Senator Mitt Romney, R-Utah, expressed support for former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, telling Fox News Sunday that a trial is needed to achieve “truth and justice”.
Romney, who voted to condemn Trump on his first impeachment, cited Trump’s effort to convince Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, to overturn the result of the state election, as well as his call for a march on the U.S. Capitol in a January 6 rally immediately preceding the violent riot.
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“Well, we’re definitely going to have a trial. I wish it wasn’t necessary, but the president’s conduct regarding the call to Secretary of State Raffensperger in Georgia, as well as the incitement to the insurrection that led to the attack on the Capitol call a trial, “said Romney.
“And, you know, if we are going to have unity in our country, I think it’s important to recognize the need for responsibility, truth and justice.”
Romney said the House’s impeachment article “suggests objectionable conduct”, but he acknowledged that he and his fellow senators have not yet heard arguments from both sides. He said he “will do my best as a Senate juror to apply justice in the best way I can understand”.
The Republican continued to criticize Trump, not just for his words and actions in the months after the election, but for what he said before her, since his first impeachment.
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“I think it’s pretty clear that during the past year or so there has been an effort to corrupt the elections in the United States,” said Romney. “It was not for President Biden, it was for President Trump. … That corruption that we saw in relation to conduct in Ukraine, as well as the appeal to Secretary of State Raffensperger, as well as inciting insurrection. This is obviously very serious and a attack on the very foundations of our democracy and it has to be considered and resolved. “
Looking ahead, Romney acknowledged that Trump will continue to have an influence on the Republican Party, but pointed to new voices that he believes can determine the direction the party will take. He specifically mentioned Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Sens. Ben Sasse, R-Neb. and Marco Rubio, R-Fla.,
Romney also criticized Biden. Although the new president called for unity, Romney said that some of his executive actions during the early days of the government caused division.
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“I think some actions that the president is taking will generate anger and division,” said Romney. “I think, for example, that we are not going to allow more government land leases for oil and gas, which obviously seriously damage our rural communities. Stopping the Keystone Pipeline, this puts many people out of work. people will understandably be angry. “
Romney said Biden should be careful “not to do things that incite a lot of unnecessary anger”.