Romney breaks ranks with GOP, will vote to convict Trump | TheHill

He’s now officially a member of the resistance & should be expelled from the @GOP.But that idea isn’t going to get traction with Republican senators.Sen. Lamar AlexanderAndrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderGOP senators label Trump's behavior 'shameful' but not impeachable Giuliani: Trump should 'absolutely, 100 percent' keep investigating Biden Now it's all about the election MORE (R-Tenn.) said, “every senator has a right to vote how he or she feels,” while Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbySenate drama surrounding Trump trial starts to fizzle Senate fails to get deal to speed up fight over impeachment rules Roberts under pressure from both sides in witness fight MORE (R-Ala.), one of the Senate’s most senior lawmakers, said “the party ought to be a big umbrella.”Romney pushed last week to extend Trump’s impeachment trial, delivering a forceful argument at a Senate GOP lunch meeting in favor of a motion to subpoena additional witnesses and documents.After The New York Times reported that former national security adviser John BoltonJohn BoltonOn The Money: Democrats urge emergency funding for coronavirus | Kudlow says outbreak will have 'minimal impact' on economy | Top Dem demands Barr recuse himself from case against Turkish bank Giuliani: Trump should 'absolutely, 100 percent' keep investigating Biden Now it's all about the election MORE claimed in an unpublished manuscript that Trump explicitly linked military aid for Ukraine to an investigation of former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenButtigieg maintains slim lead after second round of Iowa results released Trump touts achievements on eve of impeachment verdict Trump bashes 'Medicare for All' in swipe at Sanders MORE, Romney said, “It is increasingly apparent that it would be important” for the Senate to hear from him as a witness.“I think it’s increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who think we should hear from John Bolton,” he said.Romney said Wednesday afternoon that one of the reasons he pushed hard for Bolton was the hope that he would be able to provide more information to fairly weight the House prosecutors’ arguments.“I hoped that what he might say could raise reasonable doubt and thus remove from me the awful obligation to vote for impeachment,” he said.In the end, however, only Collins voted with Romney and all 47 Senate Democrats to consider subpoenas for new evidence, which GOP leaders warned could extend the trial for weeks.Romney had signaled to colleagues in private conversations that he would vote against Trump’s removal Wednesday, according to a Senate GOP aide not connected with Romney’s office.