Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — One late night talk show host dangled milk and Twinkies before a certain Utah senator for talking some “old-fashioned common sense” into a few of his fellow Republicans hearing the impeachment trial.
Jimmy Kimmel brought a cow and Twinkie the Kid on stage for his monologue Tuesday while pleading with Sen. Mitt Romney — “our last hope” — to insist on having a fair trial with witnesses and evidence.
“The future of our democracy is in your soft, creamy hands. I know that you want to do this. I know it,” Kimmel said.
Romney is among a few GOP senators who want President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton to testify before the Senate. Kimmel showed several clips of Romney telling reporters as much before saying, “That’s right. The Mitt is about to hit the tan.”
The button-down Utah senator has created media buzz not only for his views on additional witnesses but for drinking chocolate milk on the Senate floor Tuesday. Milk and water are the only beverages allowed on the floor. Romney also is a self-admitted lover of Twinkies, prompting his staff to make him a birthday cake out of the cream-filled snack last year.
“Who would ever thought that the most rebellious senator would be Mitt Romney? But here we are,” Kimmel said.
Kimmel applauded Romney for taking a stand when many Republicans in the Senate won’t. He said it’s “insane” that the man on trial — the president — can decide what evidence is shared with the jury.
“But you, Sen. Romney, are not insane. You’re a religious man, you’re a family man who seems like you would like to do the right thing, and the right thing is to insist on having a fair trial with witnesses and evidence. But we can’t have that without you,” he said.
“I know you don’t like Donald Trump, and I know you have principles, in fact you look like a principal of a high school.”
Kimmel said Trump deserves a fair trial, and Romney would be a hero if he helps give it to him, offering to “sweeten the pot” before bringing the cow and Twinkie the Kid on stage. He said if Romney would “march those pleated Dockers” into the Senate chamber and insist on witnesses and evidence, he would give him a milk cow and all the delicious Twinkies he could eat.
“Go ahead, have a cow. Be the hero you were meant to be. Don’t just do this for yourself. Do it for your grandchildren — all 3,000 of them,” he said.
Kimmel said because no grassroots movement is complete without a hashtag, he urged people to call for a fair trial using #MittOrGetOffThePot.
“Now, Twinkie the Kid,” he said, “ride this cow to Washington and fill Mitt Romney with cream.”
