Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) tweeted on Saturday that he voted to convict former President Donald Trump in the Senate impeachment trial “because he is guilty.”
“Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty,” Cassidy tweeted.
Cassidy is one of seven Republicans who was convinced by the House managers’ arguments and voted to convict Trump in a 57-43 vote.
Cassidy was joined by fellow Republican colleagues Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Ben Sasse (Neb.), Patrick Toomey (Pa.) and Richard Burr (N.C.).
Cassidy’s decision was a surprise to some after he was seen on Friday with a statement that showed support for Trump’s acquittal, but his communications director stated that Cassidy had drafted two statements, one for and against Trump’s conviction.
Cassidy has previously said that that the House Managers had “done very well” with their arguments for Trump’s guilt.
However, the arguments fell short as conviction would have required 17 Republicans to side with the Democrats.
Since Trump was not convicted, he is allowed to run for a political office again. He has made clear he will stay involved in the political realm, but it is not clear what his future plans are with the Republican party.