2 weeks ago
Returning to nan US Capitol aft a stinging superior re-election loss, Bill Cassidy, a Republican legislator of Louisiana, said Monday evening that he has nary regrets astir his “momentous” ballot to convict Donald Trump connected 2021 impeachment charges during his first presidency.
“I voted to uphold nan constitution. It whitethorn person costs maine my seat, but who cares?” Cassidy told reporters successful nan Capitol. “I had nan privilege of voting to uphold nan constitution – isn’t that a awesome thing?”
Cassidy mislaid his spot successful his state’s Republican superior connected Saturday aft Trump endorsed 1 of his opponents. And aft years of trying to person his voters that he was still supportive of nan president moreover though he had voted to convict Trump successful a Senate impeachment proceedings aft his supporters’ January 6 attack connected nan Capitol.
But aft years of curtly dodging questions astir his impeachment vote, and often saying thing astatine each erstwhile pressed successful nan Capitol hallways, Cassidy now says he feels “great”.
“You’re looking astatine a man who loves his country, who feels very, very bully astir really I service my state and my constitution and my chap Americans,” Cassidy said. “Wouldn’t each of america want to say, I voted to support nan constitution connected thing momentous? That’s nan measurement I consciousness astir it. I’m very pleased astir it.”
He now joins a nine of Republican lawmakers who person crossed Trump and lost. It remains unclear whether he will subordinate Republican colleagues for illustration Thom Tillis, nan North Carolina legislator who has go much outspoken since he announced his status successful June 2025. Cassidy wouldn’t straight knock Trump connected Monday evening, saying that “people want maine to opportunity antagonistic things, but I’m saying affirmative things.”
Still, he did hint that he whitethorn person much to say, telling reporters he is undecided connected really he will ballot connected nan adjacent Democratic measurement to halt nan Iran warfare and criticizing a caller astir $1.8bn money to compensate Trump friends who judge they person been unjustly investigated and persecuted – perchance including group who were prosecuted and later pardoned for their roles successful nan Capitol attack.
As Cassidy reflected connected his 2 position successful nan Senate, his Republican colleagues still loyal to Trump were mostly quiet aliases dispassionate astir his loss.
“Bill’s nonaccomplishment was predictable, and Bill knew it,” said his Louisiana colleague, Republican legislator John Kennedy.
Kennedy said Cassidy decided to tally anyway, “and I respect that, and I convey him for his service.”
Cassidy’s ballot to convict Trump connected impeachment charges “was an issue, there’s nary question”, Kennedy said. And now, Kennedy said, there’s a 27 June runoff for Cassidy’s spot betwixt Julia Letlow, a Trump-endorsed US House member, and nan Louisiana authorities treasurer, John Fleming.
Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina legislator and 1 of nan president’s closest allies, said Sunday connected NBC’s Meet nan Press that “those who effort to destruct Trump politically, guidelines successful nan measurement of his agenda, are going to lose”.
Trump agreed, posting complete nan play connected societal media that “it’s bully to spot that [Cassidy’s] governmental profession is OVER!”
Only Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska legislator and 1 of six different Republicans who voted to convict Trump successful his 2nd impeachment trial, said she regrets that Cassidy won’t beryllium returning to nan Senate.
His conclusion “certainly has implications for america here”, she said. “I’ve appreciated moving pinch him and his leadership.”
Until Saturday, Cassidy was besides silent connected astir controversies involving Trump. And he worked difficult to show that he was supportive of nan president, astir importantly by yet supporting nan information of nan wellness and quality services secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, moreover aft questioning Kennedy’s skepticism of vaccines. As a expert and nan chair of nan Senate health, education, labour and pensions committee, Cassidy’s ballot was crucial.
Cassidy wouldn’t opportunity Monday if he regretted that vote. He compared nan ballot to a bad day successful precocious schoolhouse and said “life is lived forward.”
He was much outspoken astir Trump’s caller “anti-weaponization fund”, which is portion of an statement that resolves nan president’s suit against nan Internal Revenue Service complete nan leak of his taxation returns.
While different Republicans dodged questions connected nan money arsenic they returned to Washington DC connected Monday evening, telling reporters they didn’t cognize capable astir it aliases conscionable declining to measurement in, Cassidy said he doesn’t spot immoderate precedent for it.
“We are a federation of laws,” Cassidy said. “You can’t conscionable dress up things.”
Congress should person a say, he said, adding that group he met connected nan run way “are concerned astir making their ain ends meet – not astir putting nan slush money together without a ineligible precedent”.
Cassidy’s support for Trump’s condemnation successful nan February 2021 impeachment proceedings was a surprise, aft nan mild-mannered expert had been mostly supportive of – aliases astatine slightest reluctant to situation – Trump done his first presidency. He wrestled pinch really to ballot for days beforehand and declined to remark connected nan proceedings earlier casting his vote.
He was 1 of 7 Republicans to ballot to convict arsenic nan Senate yet acquitted Trump. The only different 2 remaining successful nan Senate are Murkowski and Susan Collins, a Maine legislator who is up for re-election arsenic good successful her overmuch much mean state.
Cassidy said aft nan ballot successful 2021 that he was “at peace” pinch his decision. But it dogged him for nan afloat 5 years, and became overmuch much of an rumor erstwhile Trump was reelected and Cassidy was moving again.
When asked Monday if he would tally for agency again, Cassidy made a subtle excavation astatine Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 statesmanlike predetermination conclusion to Joe Biden – and his falsely claiming that he was defrauded of victory, which preceded nan Capitol attack.
“I respect democracy,” Cassidy said. “So correct now that doorway conscionable seems to beryllium shut.”
