The chairman of the Conservative American Political Action Conference is defending his decision not to invite Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) to its annual convention.
Romney was explicitly uninvited from CPAC after being one of two Republican Senators to vote against blocking witnesses in the Senate's impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
BREAKING: The "extreme conservative" and Junior Senator from the great state of Utah, @SenatorRomney is formally NO… https://t.co/Z1iydyuxcL— Matt Schlapp (@Matt Schlapp) 1580511348.0
The ire from Romney's party only worsened when he became the sole Republican Senator who voted to convict Trump on an article of impeachment—and the first Senator in United States history to vote to convict a sitting President of his own party in an impeachment trial.
Appearing on Greta Van Susteren's Full Court Pressthis past Sunday, Schlapp said he no longer acknowledged Romney as a Conservative, despite Romney being the Republican nominee as recently as the 2012 election.
Schlapp went on to say he would fear for Romney's safety if he attended the CPAC conference.
"We won't credential him as a conservative. I suppose if he wants to come as a non-conservative and debate an issue with us, maybe in the future we would have him come. This year, I would actually be afraid for his physical safety, people are so mad at him."
His comments illustrated for people just how damning any dissent against Trump has become within the GOP.
So this is the Republican Party’s new thing? If you don’t go along with us 100% we’re going to physically harm you?… https://t.co/9wGVnNUMPr— On Consideration (@On Consideration) 1581347503.0
CPAC Chair: Yes, we have no honor. We are violent, puerile bullies. Defy us and you won't be safe. https://t.co/TkXbPKzIL5 #SmartNews— Glen Bateman (@Glen Bateman) 1581322673.0
As I recall, people who publicly disagree with leaders of North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Venezuela, Turke… https://t.co/RDWaPUAnne— One of Twelve (@One of Twelve) 1581336158.0
They are literally saying that their own people are violent and uncontrollable. Their own people. https://t.co/2BXSfzZntj— Bill Prady (@Bill Prady) 1581314348.0
Another sign of creeping Fascism. Physical threats to anyone does not obey the tyrant: CPAC Chairman Says Mitt Romn… https://t.co/49hNjAbwMT— Duty To Warn 🔉 (@Duty To Warn 🔉) 1581347705.0
“I would actually be afraid for his physical safety [at CPAC].” @mschlapp on Sen. Romney. What an indictment of yo… https://t.co/gmJsWU0uBT— Christian Vanderbrouk (@Christian Vanderbrouk) 1581290589.0
This is a incredibly odd statement. So a Republican leader is saying that Trump supporters are so unhinged that… https://t.co/Bn4aSEBQyW— Shannon Joy (@Shannon Joy) 1581344266.0
Romney has been targeted by the President, the President's sons, and the President's allies since his vote to convict.
Check out Fascism: A Warningby former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, available here.