Romney shouldn’t be censured by Utah, governor says

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, walks through a hallway at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. Republicans in the state are unusually divided on the president, so while some were heartened to see Romney cast what he described as an agonizing vote dictated by his conscience, Trump supporters were left angry and frustrated. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Friday he does not support a state lawmaker’s push to censure U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney over his vote to convict in the president’s impeachment trial.

Herbert, a Republican, said in a statement Romney voted in accordance with his conscience after hearing all the evidence in the trial, and his decision does not warrant censure.

The position signals a roadblock for the effort to rebuke Romney amid a wave of Republican anger directed at the party’s former presidential nominee. The resolution would show the senator that other members of his party were unhappy with his vote and wanted to show their respect for the president, its sponsor has said.

A separate effort to create a way to recall a U.S. Senator would likely be unconstitutional, Utah Senate leaders have said.

Leaders in the GOP-dominated Legislature have expressed more support for another plan to formally recognize the work done by President Donald Trump and his administration without taking aim at Romney.

The governor’s statement comes after Romney flew back to Utah to explain his decision in person to GOP state legislative leaders.

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6 Comments

  • Merle Hunsaker February 9, 2020 at 1:31 pm Reply

    Governor is wright, should not be censored . . . should be removed from office. ON with the recall!

  • Sharon February 9, 2020 at 3:03 pm Reply

    What baloney, governor. We still have the First Amendment, which provides freedom of speech. Herbert claims that Romney voted according to his conscience, which I personally doubt, but he has the right to do that. Just as the lawmaker who is ‘censoring’ Romney has the right to do what he is doing. It is the way our Constitution works. To try to publicly shame a lawmaker is what is wrong.

  • Voter February 9, 2020 at 8:57 pm Reply

    Sorry, governor. Yes, Romney should be censured. He represents us. I will vote my conscience and not vote for him in 2024.

  • Concrete Logan February 9, 2020 at 11:17 pm Reply

    He definitely made some concrete decisions when he did that. Now his name is know for both good and evil. Especially in Logan Uath.

  • DWill February 12, 2020 at 5:05 pm Reply

    Good for Romney for voting what he thought was right. Unlike most of the other Democrats and Republicans who just voted on party lines…. Isn’t that what we want?

    • Voter February 13, 2020 at 8:49 am Reply

      So Mike Lee didn’t vote his conscience when he voted to acquit? You can vote along party lines and still vote your conscience.

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