Cassidy responds to impeachment vote question after Louisiana election defeat

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA: Days after losing the Louisiana primary contest, Republican Bill Cassidy spoke about whether his friction with President Donald Trump cost him, or if he regrets supporting Trump’s impeachment after the January 6 Capitol riot.

Cassidy defended his decision to vote to convict President Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial five years ago. He lost the state’s Republican primary to Trump-backed contestant Rep Julia Letlow.

Cassidy defends voting for Trump’s impeachment

Cassidy refused to regret his decision to support Trump’s impeachment, saying he considers it a privilege to have been able to vote to uphold the Constitution.

"I voted to uphold the Constitution. It may have cost me my seat, but who cares?" Cassidy told reporters at the Capitol on Monday. "I had the privilege of voting to uphold the Constitution, isn’t that a great thing?"

"You’re looking at a man who loves his country, who feels very, very good about how I serve my country and my Constitution and my fellow Americans," Cassidy said. "Wouldn’t all of us want to say, I voted to support the Constitution on something momentous? That’s the way I feel about it. I’m very pleased about it."

Trump had urged the voters in the state to vote Cassidy out, calling him a "sleazebag," "a terrible guy" and a "disloyal disaster."

Bill Cassidy faces devastating defeat

Letlow and Fleming will now proceed to a runoff election next month. Julia Letlow was able to secure 45% of the total votes, followed by Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming with 28%. Cassidy came in third with just over 24% of the vote.

Cassidy’s loss also puts him in rare company. He becomes the first elected Republican senator to lose renomination since former Indiana Sen Richard Lugar was defeated in a 2012 primary.

Cassidy’s friction with the GOP base has lingered ever since he became one of only seven Republican senators to vote in early 2021 to convict Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Trump celebrates Cassidy’s crushing defeat

After incumbent Sen Bill Cassidy was officially shown the door by Louisiana Republicans, Trump celebrated his loss, stating that it was nice for him to see that Cassidy’s career was over.

Trump celebrated online by declaring, "Bill Cassidy, after falsely using his 'relationship' with me during his political career, and winning Elections because of it, voted to impeach me on preposterous charges that were fake then, and now, are criminally insane! His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend, and it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER!"

"I’d like to thank the Great People of the State of Louisiana, and this Big Victory will only make me work even harder for your success, and all that comes with it. I LOVE YOU ALL. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!