Senator Mitt Romney is facing a possible censure from other Utah Republicans at a GOP convention this weekend. (Photo by Senate Television via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Senator Mitt Romney is facing a possible censure from other Utah Republicans at a GOP convention this weekend.
The censure resolution stems back to Senator Romney’s votes to impeach former President Donald Trump. Romney voted for impeachment in the first Trump trial on February 5, 2021, and was the only GOPer to do so. He again voted for impeachment in the second trial on February 13, 2021.
“The Constitution established the vehicle of impeachment that has occupied both Houses of our Congress these many days. We have labored to faithfully execute our responsibilities to it,” Romney said after casting his first impeachment vote in early February. “The allegations made in the articles of impeachment are very serious.”
This won’t be the first time that Utah Republicans debate whether to censure Romney. Earlier this year a discussion was held on the topic, although they ultimately veered away from rebuking him.
The new proposed resolution claims former President Trump was denied due process in each of the two impeachment trials. It also claims that Romney’s votes for impeachment served as endorsements for a process “that was flawed.”
Beyond the proposed censure, it specifies no sort of punishment, only that the document should be posted on the Utah Republican Party website.
Aside from Senator Romney, the proposal cites the rest of Utah’s delegation, calling on them to officially thank Senator Mike Lee “for his votes to protect due process and the U.S. Constitution by voting against the unconstitutional charges.”
It would also thank U.S. Representatives Chris Stewart, John Curtis, Blake Moore and Burgess Owens for “voting against the Democrats’ politically motivated articles of impeachment.”
The Utah Republican Party is set to meet this Saturday, where they will also vote for new party leadership.