Politico | Defiant Liz Cheney tears into Donald Trump, Republican Party, before expected ouster
- Republicans set to oust Donald Trump critic Liz Cheney from leadership
- Cheney chastised party colleagues for not standing up to Trump
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Olivia Beavers and Melanie Zanona on politico.com on May 11, 2021.
On the eve of being ousted as House Republican conference chair, a defiant congresswoman Liz Cheney called Donald Trump a “threat we have never seen before” and said she refuses to peddle his lies that the election was stolen, nor should her party colleagues.
In what will likely be her final public stand as the No 3 in Republican Party leadership, the Wyoming Republican – wearing a pin that is a replica of George Washington’s battle flag – continued to blame Trump for inciting the deadly January 6 riots, raised concerns about the path her party is heading, and warned that democracy and freedom are at stake. All are comments that have contributed to her imminent loss of power.
“Remaining silent and ignoring the lie emboldens the liar,” Cheney said in a floor speech Tuesday evening. “I will not participate in that. I will not sit back and watch in silence while others lead our party down a path that abandons the rule of law and joins the former president’s crusade to undermine our democracy.”
“We must speak the truth,” she added. “Our election was not stolen, and America has not failed.”
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Cheney also admonished Trump for provoking “a violent attack on this Capitol in an effort to steal the election” and warned that “he risks inciting further violence” by continuing to push his baseless claims about voter fraud, which many of her Republican colleagues have echoed.