Republican House Conference Chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) wrote on op-ed Wednesday warning that the Republican party is at a “turning point.” Cheney said that the party must decide whether or not to reject former President Donald Trump’s debunked election fraud claims, explaining that violence similar to the Capitol insurrection could happen again if Trump’s false claims are not fully rebuked.
“Trump is seeking to unravel critical elements of our constitutional structure that make democracy work – confidence in the result of elections and the rule of law. No other American president has ever done this,” Cheney wrote in the Washington Post. “The Republican Party is at a turning point, and Republicans must decide whether we are going to choose truth and fidelity to the Constitution.”
Cheney is currently fighting back against a House GOP move to oust her from her position as the number three Republican in the House. The is the second time the Republican House caucus has tried to oust Cheney – a February vote for her removal ended 61 in favor, 145 against.
“History is watching. Our children are watching,” Cheney continued. “We must be brave enough to defend the basic principles that underpin and protect our freedom and our democratic process. I am committed to doing that, no matter what the short-term political consequences might be.”
There is also a growing call from Republicans as well as Trump for Cheney to be replaced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York), with the former president specifically writing in a Wednesday blog post, “Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!”
