Sen, Rob Portman, R-Ohio, on Sunday said the constitutional questions around the conviction of former President Donald Trump as a “private citizen” are his ultimate concern about the upcoming impeachment trial in the upper chamber.
In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Portman called Trump’s involvement in the deadly Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol “inexcusable.”
"We would be convicting a private citizen,” he said of the ultimate consequence. “That sets a precedent.
“I said what he did was inexcusable,” he said, but added: “I do think this constitutionality issue has to be addressed… it can be inexcusable and yet not be subject to a conviction.”
Portman said his retirement from the Senate doesn’t mean he’ll remain silent when it comes to politics.
“I never intended to stay as long as I did,” he said, adding he’s “looking forward getting back to private sector and non-profit sector.”
“I do not plan to be silent,” he said. “I think we have a good chance to do well in 2022. I think Republican Party is on sound footing on the policies, people trust us on that.”
Portman also decried the pushback on Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., for her impeachment vote, and said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., got stripped of her committee assignment for her controversial support of political violence.
“She is a friend, very smart and plays a key part,” Portman said of Cheney. Adding, “it’s important to have her voice in the process… she’s very valuable for the team.”
But of Greene, he said, “Republican leaders ought to stand up and say it is totally unacceptable what she has said.”
“There’s no place for violence in our political dialogue,” he said, calling a possible denial to her of a committee assignment would “send the message… there has to be a strong response.”
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