CPAC says Romney ‘not invited’ this year after vote at Trump trial

Leaders of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday night formally disinvited Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) from attending the event next month over his vote to approve additional witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial.

“The ‘extreme conservative’ and Junior Senator from the great state of Utah, @SenatorRomney is formally NOT invited to #CPAC2020,” tweeted Matt Schlapp, the head of the American Conservative Union, which puts on the annual GOP confab.

The conference, which is scheduled for the end of next month, is one of the largest conservative gatherings in the country that has emerged as a top meeting place for some of President Trump’s highest-profile supporters.

Among this year’s speakers are GOP personalities Diamond and Silk, Candace Owens and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), who put up a strong defense of the president during the House’s impeachment investigation as the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee.

It was unclear if Romney planned to attend the event this year. The former Massachusetts governor addressed the conservative gathering in 2011 and when running for president in 2012. He returned the following year after his electoral defeat.

The Hill has reached out to his office for comment.

Romney drew widespread GOP rebukes on Friday after bucking the White House and voting to allow more witnesses in the Senate’s impeachment trial, potentially extending the proceedings for weeks or longer. The measure ultimately failed by a 49-51 margin, setting up a vote next week to swiftly acquit Trump.

The Utah Republican, who was his party’s presidential nominee in 2012, has largely voted along party lines since entering the Senate in 2019. However, he has repeatedly expressed concerns over Trump’s rhetoric since he won election in 2016.