A shocking tragedy has struck — and it involves one of President Trump’s fiercest Republican critics.
Carrie Elizabeth Romney, sister-in-law to former presidential candidate and Utah Senator Mitt Romney, was discovered deceased Friday night in Valencia, California, according to officials and several news outlets.
The 64-year-old was found near a shopping center parking structure around 8:30 p.m., according to TMZ. Authorities said the case is still being investigated, and the Los Angeles County coroner’s office has not yet identified the official cause or manner of death.
Investigators said it’s still unclear whether Carrie Romney fell or jumped from the multi-level parking garage or a nearby building. Deputies are examining surveillance video and speaking with witnesses to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
Neither the Romney family nor the medical examiner’s office has released an official statement.
A Family in Turmoil
The news comes as Mitt Romney — once a major figure in the GOP — has faced growing isolation within his own party. The Utah senator, who ran unsuccessfully against Barack Obama in 2012, has spent the last several years attacking President Donald Trump, often siding with Democrats and left-leaning media outlets.
Romney made history as the only Republican senator to vote to convict Trump in his first impeachment trial in 2020 — and again in 2021. His repeated betrayals of the conservative base alienated many supporters who once saw him as a party leader.
In 2019, Romney wrote a scathing op-ed condemning Trump’s leadership and accusing him of making “destructive statements.” That piece cemented his reputation as one of the loudest anti-Trump voices in Washington.
Political Fallout Amid Personal Loss
Now, as investigators look into the sudden death of his sister-in-law, questions swirl around Romney’s next steps — both personally and politically. The tragedy comes during a time when Trump continues to dominate the political stage, while Romney’s influence has steadily faded.
For many conservatives, the contrast couldn’t be clearer: Trump remains the face of a renewed America-First movement, while Romney’s brand of establishment politics is quickly disappearing.