Vance claps back at Romney for Trump-related criticism

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) made it clear Thursday that he didn’t appreciate Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) criticizing his appearance at former President Trump’s trial as “embarrassing” and advised his Utah colleague to focus more in his legislative work than judging other Republican senators.

“Of all people, Mitt Romney is probably the least equipped to criticize the way people have behaved toward Donald Trump,” Vance said.

“He attacked him and then begged for a job, and then attacked them again and begged for their endorsement,” the senator added.

Vance was referring to Romney’s outspoken criticism of Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. Romney, after Trump’s election, met with the then-president-elect at the Trump National Golf Club.

Vance alluded to Romney’s possible interest in serving in Trump’s cabinet and his attempt to obtain Trump’s endorsement before his 2018 Senate campaign. Romney accepted Trump’s endorsement but decided not to mention Trump in a campaign video .

“Mitt has been on three sides of every public policy issue in this country for the last 20 years. I think he should continue to be a legislator and try to do a good job for the people of Utah. When he attacks his colleagues, I think it’s counterproductive,” Vance told reporters.

Vance responded by applauding Romney after the Utah senator told reporters it was “humiliating” for Republican senators and House members to attend Trump’s trial in New York for concealing secret payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

“I think it’s a little humiliating to appear in front of a court and – particularly a court where we’re talking about an allegation of payments to a porn star,” Romney told reporters on Wednesday.

Vance was one of the few Republican senators who attended Trump’s trial in New York. Other attendees included Senators Rick Scott (Florida) and Tommy Tuberville (Allah).

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) appeared in court Tuesday to denounce the trial as a “sham.”

At least nine Republican lawmakers attended the trial on Thursday, putting House Republicans at risk of effectively losing control of the House floor due to attendance issues.

Romney told reporters he found the displays of loyalty “embarrassing.”

“There is a level of dignity and decorum that you expect from people who are running for the highest office in the land, and to go out and prostrate yourself in front of the public to try to, apparently, curry favor with the person who is our nominee, is a little embarrassing.” , Romney said.

Vance told Fox News in an interview Tuesday that he was there “to support a friend,” calling Trump’s legal ordeal “a very depressing way to spend five, six weeks of your life knowing you’re innocent.”

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story