In this image from video, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, speaks as the Senate reconvenes to debate the objection to confirm the Electoral College Vote from Arizona, after protesters stormed into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, says President Donald Trump should face a “meaningful consequence” for his role potentially inciting violence at the U.S. Capitol last Wednesday.
The House of Representatives plans to vote sometime Tuesday on a resolution, urging Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office. If he does not follow through, they said, they will pursue impeachment.
House Democrats formally introduced the resolution Monday, charging President Trump with “incitement of insurrection.”
A number of Utahns in Washington weighed in on the charge, including Romney, who remains critical of President Trump.
“When the president incites an attack against Congress, there must be a meaningful consequence,” Romney said in a statement. “We will be considering those options and the best course for our nation in the days ahead.”
In a Senate speech last week, Romney used strong words to describe the unrest.
“What happened here today was an insurrection, incited by the president of the United States,” he said.
Reps. John Curtis and Blake Moore, both R-Utah, also shared their thoughts on the events taking place this week.
In a statement shared on social media, Curtis explained he isn’t against an impeachment process, although he is against rushing the process.
“I would support an impeachment process with hearings, witnesses, and testimony and I would support an appropriately worded censure,” he said. “Unfortunately, a 48 hour impeachment process has no chance of reaching a thoughtful conclusion, holds no consideration for the millions people who have voted for him, and will do nothing to unite the country or answer the many questions needing resolution.”
Taking a stronger stance against impeachment, Moore says it’s time for the country to unite; he cited the coming presidential transition in his reasoning.
“I look forward to a peaceful transition of power and having a productive relationship with President-elect Biden and his administration,” he said. “At a time when our nation needs to unite and heal, invoking the 25th Amendment would only divide us even further.”
Former Rep. Mia Love, also a Republican, told KSL NewsRadio’s Dave & Dujanovic she doubted Pence would invoke the 25th Amendment, over concerns it would cause more division. Listen to that audio below.
Dave & Dujanovic airs weekdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on KSL NewsRadio.