Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Romney returns to Utah to explain impeachment vote
SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney was back in Utah on Thursday explaining his vote to convict President Donald Trump amid pushes by some angry GOP state legislators to censure Romney or create a way to recall the senator.
Romney met with legislative leaders behind closed doors. Many legislators disagreed with his decision on Trump and were concerned about repercussions for the state. Still, some said his quick trip back to Utah from Washington to elaborate on voting his conscience helped ease their frustration with the politician who holds celebrity status in Utah.
“It was a very frank conversation, and people shared their opinions back and forth,” Republican House Speaker Brad Wilson said.
Utah is deeply conservative, but many voters remain wary of Trump’s behavior and his comments about women, immigrants and on other issues. However, Trump’s 2017 move to downsize two sprawling national monuments in the southern part of the state earned him lasting appreciation from many state leaders. It’s unclear whether the GOP-dominated Legislature will advance censure or recall proposals. But Wilson did say there would be a separate resolution to send a message of appreciation to Trump for “the great work his administration has done.”
Republican Rep. Phil Lyman wants to censure Romney but nevertheless said he appreciates that the senator voted his conscience.
Lyman’s censure resolution says, “We’re unhappy that you took this position with the president, we think it’s disruptive nationally, we think it harms Utah, and we’ve got some damage control to do as a result of it.”
A separate proposal would create a path to recall a U.S. senator. Other states have passed similar laws that haven’t fared well in the courts.
Some Republican legislators in Utah appeared ready to move on from the dustup and get back to making state laws.
“I, for one, wouldn’t want to be judged, censured, for one vote I had when he makes 80% of his votes to support the president,” said Republican Sen. Don Ipson. “Not everyone would say his vote is wrong.”