The majority of Utah’s Republican lawmakers does not support a move by some in the party to censure Sen. Mitt Romney for voting to convict Donald Trump in the impeachment trial.
In a statement, the Utah GOP indicated support for both of the state’s senators despite their differing votes. Romney voted to convict while Lee voted to acquit.
“Our senators have both been criticized for their vote,” the Utah GOP wrote. “The differences between our own Utah Republicans showcase a diversity of thought, in contrast to the danger of a party fixated on ‘unanimity of thought.’ There is power in our differences as a political party, and we look forward to each senator explaining their votes to the people of Utah.”
“Disagreement is natural and healthy in a party that is based on principles — not on persona. In fact, those principles are the reason behind unprecedented American prosperity during the last four years,” Utah’s Republican Party leaders wrote.
According to The Salt Lake Tribute a google petition to censure Romney was being circulated after his vote on Saturday.
The proposed censure accuses Romney of “misrepresented himself as a Republican” and “prioritized his personal and political vendetta against President Donald J. Trump ahead of the Constitution of the United States, the interest of We, the People, and the advancement of the Republican Platform.”
The resolution also accuses Romney of “embarrassing the state” and “appearing to be an agent for the Establishment Deep State.”
The Utah GOP Chairman Derek Brown told ABC News he hasn’t seen any such document.
The statement is a stark contrast with how some other state and county GOP party committees have pursued censure against Republicans who voted to impeach or convict Donald Trump.
Romney was one of seven Republican senators to join Democrats to find Trump guilty of the charge of inciting and insurrection in the after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Sens. Richard Burr, Pat Toomey, Ben Sasse, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowki and Susan Collins have all been censured or face a possible censure in their respective states for voting to convict.
