MANCHESTER, N.H. — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (I-Vt.) praised Republican Sen. Mitt Romney Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates GOP votes to authorize subpoenas, depositions in Obama-era probe Overnight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' MORE (R-Utah) for his vote to convict President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE on the charge of abuse of power, telling voters on Thursday more Republicans should follow Romney's example.

The Senate voted to acquit Trump on Wednesday of both charges — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — putting an end the impeachment proceedings that started late last year.

"I think that Mitt Romney showed a great deal of courage and I wish there were other Republicans that shared the same sense of decency," Sanders, who voted to convict Trump on both counts, said at a CNN town hall.

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The Vermont senator's comments come one day after Romney shocked Washington and broke with his party to vote to convict Trump on the one impeachment article, saying “the president is guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust” and “a flagrant assault on our electoral rights.”

Romney voted against the second article of impeachment accusing the president of obstruction of Congress, which failed strictly along party lines.

The former 2012 Republican presidential nominee also received praise from a number of his Democratic counterparts, including Democratic presidential contender Sen. Michael Bennet Michael Farrand BennetOVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency Next crisis, keep people working and give them raises MORE (D-Colo.), who said it “restores my faith in democracy.”

However, Republicans expressed disappointment in Romney's decision, and Trump publicly criticized Romney for the vote.