Republicans in the House have voted to oust Liz Cheney (R-WY) from her position as the 3rd-ranking party member in the chamber. The vote comes after Cheney openly criticized former President Trump for promoting the widely-debunked theory that the November 2020 presidential election had been stolen.
The vote took place Wednesday morning in a private gathering inside the Capitol. Major news outlets are reporting that according to some members present, Cheney was removed by a voice vote, so that there are no records of how members voted.
“There were no speeches really,” said Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), an ally of Cheney, to reporters following the vote. “It was just Kevin (McCarthy, House Minority Leader) standing up and then the vote happened.”
In a statement following the vote, Cheney stuck by her criticism of the former president, saying, “We cannot both embrace the big lie and embrace the constitution. And going forward, the nation needs it. The nation needs a strong Republican party. The nation needs a party that is based upon the fundamental principles of conservatism.”
She added that she would do what she could to make sure Donald Trump is not returned to office. “We have seen the danger that he continues to provoke with his language,” she said. “We have seen his lack of commitment and dedication to the constitution. And I think it’s very important that we make sure whomever we elect is somebody who will be faithful to the constitution.”
Cheney, who was elected to the House in 2016, earned the ire of many fellow Republicans after she voted to impeach Trump for his role in inciting the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th. Since then, she has vocally criticized the president for his role in that insurrection, and for continuing to push the “Big Lie” with regards to the 2020 election.
She is expected to be replaced as the Republican’s conference chair by Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who has been vocal in her support of the former president.
What Do You Think?