Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) spoke on the House floor Tuesday evening, emphasizing the 2020 election was not stolen and saying that former President Trump's baseless claims of election fraud pose a threat that “America has never seen before.”
Why it matters: Much of the GOP establishment has turned on Cheney, the No. 3 House Republican, due to her criticism of Trump and her vote to impeachTrump for a charge of inciting an insurrection at the Capitol.
House Republicans will vote to oust Cheney from her position as conference chair on Wednesday.
What she's saying: "A former president who provoked a violent attack on this Capitol in an effort to steal the election has resumed his aggressive efforts to convince Americans that the election was stolen from him."
"The election is over. That is the rule of law. That is our constitutional process."
"Remaining silent and ignoring the lie emboldens the liar. 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."
"Our election was not stolen and America has not failed."
Flashback: Last week House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was caught on a hot mic trashing Cheney, saying he "had with her."
notcaffeinefree on May 12nd, 2021 at 01:20 UTC »
It's not Trump that's passing anti-voter laws. It's not Trump passing state laws that allow legislatures to overturn results. It's not only Trump lying about the election. It's not just Trump downplaying the insurrection.
The GOP are a threat, not just Trump.
pinkjunglegym on May 12nd, 2021 at 00:51 UTC »
Interesting that she's calling out here that Trump is trying to be a threat right now, not a past problem or something that could happen in 2024. I haven't seen anyone else do that.
I think Democrats know this, but have mostly erred on the side of not amplifying him to reduce that threat.
zombieblackbird on May 12nd, 2021 at 00:30 UTC »
And as long they only stand up one at a time, he'll keep picking them off. The party has to turn on him.