Conservatives have long accused Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of betrayal over his votes to remove former President Donald Trump from office.
However, the GOP moderate appears to be getting a taste of his own medicine as a primary challenger seeks to remove him.
According to the Washington Post, Riverton, Utah Mayor Trent Staggs released a video this past Tuesday in which he pledged to "stand against the Washington establishment."
Utah needs another proven fighter and conservative in the Senate. We need someone unafraid to stand against the Washington establishment. That's who I am, but I need your help to get there https://t.co/yg5tnTG4mV pic.twitter.com/qof9JQYi7C
— Mayor Trent Staggs (@MayorStaggs) May 23, 2023
"The only thing I’ve seen him fight for are the establishment, wokeness, open borders, impeaching President Trump and putting us even deeper into debt," Staggs complained.
Indeed, Romney made headlines in February of 2020 when he became the first-ever senator to support impeaching a president from his own party.
"This verdict is ours to render," Romney was quoted by USA Today as saying as before voting to convict Trump of obstruction of Congress.
"The grave question the Constitution tasks senators to answer is whether the president committed an act so extreme and egregious that it rises to the level of a 'high crime and misdemeanor.' Yes, he did," Romney declared.
What's more, Fox News reported the following year that Romney joined six other Republican senators in voting to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial.
That action resulted in him being confronted with a loud chorus of boos when he addressed his state's GOP convention.
.@UTGOPChair just had to intervene and tell the crowd to show respect.
It has now turned to heckling as @SenatorRomney tries to continue with his speech. @fox13 #utpol #utgop
— Ben Winslow (@BenWinslow) May 1, 2021
In addition to attacking Romney's anti-Trump record, Staggs also highlighted his opposition to COVID restrictions, saying, "In 2020, when we were told to shut down businesses, schools and churches, I said no."
What's more, the Riverton mayor slammed fiscal profligacy in Washington when he spoke with Deseret News, stating, "I just can’t believe that we’re at $32 trillion in debt."
The Post noted that for his part, Romney has yet to definitively say whether or not he intends to seek another term next year.
