The Republican Party of North Carolina is saying it will vote on Monday if it censors Republican Senator Richard Burr for voting to condemn former President Donald Trump in his Senate impeachment trial.
Burr was among seven Republicans who crossed the corridor and voted with all 50 Democrats to condemn Trump on the House’s sole charge of inciting a Capitol insurrection on January 6.
But Trump was acquitted because the 57-43 margin fell far short of the 67 votes needed to condemn.
A spokesman for the Republican Party of North Carolina said in a statement late on Sunday that the central committee would meet Monday night for the vote.
After the impeachment trial ended on Saturday, North Carolina Republican Party chairman Michael Whatley attacked Burr.
“North Carolina Republicans sent Senator Burr to the United States Senate to defend the Constitution and his vote today to condemn a trial he declared unconstitutional is shocking and disappointing,” Whatley said in a statement.
Burr, who announced in 2016 that he would not seek re-election in 2022, defended his decision.
“Resident p promoted unfounded conspiracy theories to cast doubt on the integrity of a free and fair election because he didn’t like the results … [and] when the crowd became violent, the president used his office to first ignite the situation, instead of immediately calling for an end to the attack, ”he said on Saturday.
Burr voted to condemn Trump along with Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.
The Republican Party of Louisiana censored Cassidy on Saturday.
“The Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana unanimously voted to censor Senator Bill Cassidy for his vote cast earlier today to convict former President Donald J. Trump on impeachment charges,” the party said in a statement on Saturday.
Murkowski is the only one of seven candidates for re-election in 2022.
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