Romney to vote in favor of impeachment witnesses

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) will vote on Friday to allow additional witnesses and documents in President Trump’s impeachment trial.

Liz Johnson, a spokesman for Romney, confirmed that the freshman senator will support an initial vote to pave the way for new witnesses and specifically wants to hear from former national security adviser John Bolton.

As Romney “has said, he wants to hear from Ambassador Bolton, and he will vote in favor of the motion today to consider witnesses,” Johnson tweeted on Friday.

Romney was widely expected to vote in favor of calling witnesses after emerging as the most vocal GOP senator in favor of hearing new testimony as part of Trump’s trial.

He also made the case during a closed-door lunch this week urging his colleagues to back hearing from Bolton after The New York Times reported that he will claim in his forthcoming memoir that President Trump tied Ukraine aid to the country announcing investigations into Democrats.

Romney is the second Republican senator to say they will vote to allow witnesses. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a moderate who is up for reelection in November, announced late Thursday night that she will also support the effort.

The rules resolution that passed last week for the trial allows for a vote on whether to request new witnesses or documents.

Democrats will need four Republicans to vote with them to allow witnesses as part of the trial — or three Republicans and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to step in to break a tie and side with them. 

This developing report will be updated.