Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is not backing down from his vote to convict President Donald Trump.
Cassidy wrote a column published by the Louisiana newspaper The Advocate on Sunday explaining his thought process behind his decision.
He described Trump’s behavior after the election and how it led to the riots at the U.S. Capitol.
“His rhetoric and actions were clearly intended to prevent a peaceful transfer of power,” Cassidy wrote.
He added, “Even as Vice President Mike Pence was being evacuated to a safe location by Secret Service agents because the mob was approaching the Senate chamber, President Trump was calling Senators trying to block certification.”
Cassidy argued if Trump was trying to defend the Constitution he would have sent in the National Guard and told the rioters to leave.
“Rather than defending the Constitution, President Trump was actively subverting the peaceful transfer of power, which is a bedrock principle of the Constitution,” he said.
Cassidy continued, “I voted to convict former President Trump because he is guilty. That’s what the facts demand.”
He acknowledged his decision was not a “popular” one. Still, he explained he had to because “Americans should not be fed lies about ‘massive election fraud.’ Police should not be left to the mercy of a mob. Mobs should not be inflamed to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.”
Cassidy stressed it is time to move on from “this ugly chapter” and focus on COVID-19 relief, jobs, and making Louisiana better.
The Louisiana Republican Party slammed Cassidy for his vote on Twitter on Saturday, as IJR reported.
“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him,” the party wrote.
Its executive committee also voted to censure Cassidy.
He joined six other Republicans in voting to convict Trump including, Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).