Louisiana GOP votes to censure Cassidy over impeachment vote

The executive committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana voted on Saturday to censure Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) over his vote to convict former President Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.

“The Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana has unanimously voted to censure Senator Bill Cassidy for his vote cast earlier today to convict former President Donald J. Trump on the impeachment charge,” the party said in a brief statement.

Cassidy was one of seven GOP senators who joined Democrats in voting to convict Trump for “willfully inciting violence against the Government of the United States.”

The Louisiana Republican tweeted on Saturday that he voted to convict because “Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty.”

His vote was a surprise, given that he had previously hinted that he might acquit Trump. 

The Louisiana GOP quickly condemned Cassidy for his vote just hours after the tally.

“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump,” the party said on Twitter. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him.”

We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him.

— Republican Party of Louisiana (@LAGOP) February 13, 2021

Cassidy’s office didn’t comment on the censure, but referred The Hill to Cassidy’s statement regarding his vote.

The Senate acquitted Trump on Saturday by a 57-43 vote.