Liz Cheney is coming for President Trump.
As the House kicked off its select committee investigation into what happened on January 6, the Wyoming Republican made clear the committee wants to find out exactly what Trump knew and did after he incited his supporters into attacking the U.S. Capitol building that day.
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“We must know what happened here at the Capitol. We must also know what happened every minute of that day in the White House—every phone call, every conversation, every meeting leading up to, during and after the attack,” Cheney said.
Trump dragged his feet for hours before asking the rioters to back down, and reportedly wouldn’t approve national guard backup to aid the capitol police as they were overrun by violent rioters and the building. But it remains unclear exactly what he did, and didn’t do, on that day—something the committee hopes to unveil.
Cheney made it clear she’d support subpoenas to Trump officials who refused to cooperate with the investigation. And she issued a dire warning for America, warning that if those responsible for the insurrection aren’t held accountable “this will remain a cancer on our constitutional republic.”
“We will face the threat of more violence in the months to come and another January 6th every four years,” she said.”
And she had harsh words for her fellow House Republicans, who booted her from GOP leadership because of her continuing criticism of Trump for lying about his election loss and inciting the attacks on Congress.
“On January 6 and in the days thereafter almost all members of my party recognized the events of that day for what they actually were,” she said. “No member of Congress should now attempt to defend the indefensible, obstruct this investigation or whitewash what happened that day. We must act with honor and duty, and in the interest of our nation.”
Cheney is one of two House Republicans who are participating in the committee hearings, after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy torpedoed a bipartisan agreement for a more balanced commission then decided to boycott this committee after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected two of the members he nominated for this committee.
Her participation—and that of Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger—is a visible refutation of Republicans’ claims that Democrats are only interested in a partisan witch hunt.
