Lindsey Graham said God won't ask why he voted to acquit Trump
WASHINGTON – Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Thursday that when he meets "God at the pearly gates" he won't ask why the senator voted to acquit President Donald Trump.
Graham, speaking on Fox News' Brian Kilmeade Show, was asked about Sen. Mitt Romney, R-UT., voting to convict Trump on abuse of power. Romney was the only GOP member to vote for conviction on either of the charges, becoming the first Senator in history to vote to convict a member of their own political party.
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Romney, a devout Mormon, gave an emotional speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, touting his strong belief in his faith as guidance and saying his "oath before God" was at the heart of his decision on impeachment.
Graham, one of Trump's biggest supporters in Congress, sees his religious beliefs differently, saying, "All I can tell you is that God gave us free will and common sense. I used the common sense God gave me to understand this was a bunch of B.S."
"[Impeachment] was politically driven, it was driven by people who are not looking for the truth, they hate Trump, they were gonna impeach him the day he got elected and if you can't see through this, you know, your religion is clouding your thinking here," he continued.
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"When I go to meet God at the pearly gates I don't think he's going to ask me, 'Why didn't you convict Trump?' I may be wrong but I don't think that's gonna be at the top of the list," Graham said.
Romney joined Senate Democrats in voting to convict on an article accusing Trump of abusing his power by trying to pressure Ukraine into announcing investigations of political rivals, including former Vice President Joe Biden, in exchange for releasing nearly $400 million in military aid. Romney voted against the second article charging Trump with obstruction of Congress. Trump was acquitted on both articles.
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Romney said Wednesday, "The allegations made in the articles of impeachment are very serious. As a Senator-juror, I swore an oath, before God, to exercise “impartial justice.” I am a profoundly religious person. I take an oath before God as enormously consequential. I knew from the outset that being tasked with judging the President, the leader of my own party, would be the most difficult decision I have ever faced. I was not wrong."
Graham did say in the interview that he "has always liked" the Utah Senator, who was the GOP presidential nominee in 2012.
“I appreciate the fact that he’s helped the Republican agenda,” Graham explained. “He’s going to help us continue to build up the military, cut taxes and reform the government, I hope.”
Contributing: Ledyard King, Maureen Groppe, Christal Hayes, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lindsey Graham: God won't ask 'Why didn't you convict Trump?'
