Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) was granted an award for his vote to convict former President Donald Trump.
The senator was given the John F. Kennedy âProfile in Courage Awardâ on Friday for his vote in Trumpâs first Impeachment trial in 2020, âand his consistent and courageous defense of democracy,â John F. Kennedy Library announced. The Senate acquitted Trump in February 2020.
âAs the first Senator to have ever voted to convict a President of his own party, Senator Romneyâs courageous stand was historic,â the announcement continues.
âIn February 2020, after weighing evidence that then-President Donald Trump withheld Congressionally authorized military aid for political gain, Romney voted to convict Trump for abuse of power.
Despite facing unrelenting criticism and public antagonism following this vote, along with threats to his physical safety and demands that he be censured or expelled from the Republican party, Romney has continued to courageously defend the fundamental principles of democratic governance.â
Romney is also applauded for â the integrity of the and efforts to overturn the decision of the Electoral College.â
The Utah senator also voted to convict Trump in the second Impeachment trial. The Senate acquitted Trump on the charge of âincitement of insurrectionâ following Jan. 6. Romney was among seven Republicans who joined Democrats in convicting Trump on the charge.
Defending his vote to convict Trump, Romney previously said, âI consider an attempt to corrupt an election to keep oneself in power one of the most reprehensible acts that can be taken by a sitting president.â
Despite his distaste for Trump, Romney has shared that he believes if Trump were to run for president in 2024 that he would win the Republican Partyâs nomination, as IJR reported on.
âI donât know if heâs planning to run in 2024 or not, but if he does, Iâm pretty sure he will win the nomination,â Romney said during an interview with the New York Timesâ DealBook in February.
He also said, âIf you put President Trump in there among Republicans, he wins in a landslide,â pointing to polls of potential contenders for the 2024 presidential election.
In 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was given the âProfile in Courage Awardâ for âputting the national interest above her partyâs interest to expand access to health care for all Americans and then, against a wave of political attacks.â
