President-elect Donald Trump said former Representative Liz Cheney “could be in a lot of trouble” based on a Republican-run investigation into the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol and the January 6 committee.
Trump posted on Truth Social at 3 a.m. ET Wednesday: “Liz Cheney could be in a lot of trouble based on the evidence obtained by the subcommittee, which states that “numerous federal laws were likely broken by Liz Cheney, and these violations should be investigated by the FBI.”
“Thank you to Congressman Barry Loudermilk on a job well done. Newsmax, by Greg Kelly.”
Why It Matters
Trump has threatened to imprison his political detractors and said on the campaign trail that Cheney, vice chair of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, should have a gun trained on her face, in reference to her “hawkish” politics.
Now that he is about to become president for the second time, his attacks on his opponents have not ceased.
Trump has talked about pardoning January 6 rioters who are in federal custody while advocating for members of the January 6 committee who investigated his involvement in the riot to be arrested.
When contacted for comment, the Trump Transition Team directed Newsweek to his Truth Social post.
Newsweek contacted Cheney via email for comment.
Former President Donald Trump (left) at an election night watch party on November 6 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Wyoming Republican Representative Liz Cheney (right) during a House select committee investigating the January 6 attack… Former President Donald Trump (left) at an election night watch party on November 6 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Wyoming Republican Representative Liz Cheney (right) during a House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol hearing at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 2022. Trump has threatened Cheney with an investigation as a result of her work on the committee. Left: Alex Brandon; Right: J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press
What To Know
Loudermilk, a Georgia Republican, has been running the congressional GOP “interim report” investigation into the riot through the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight.
Through his report, Loudermilk accused Cheney of witness tampering while on the January 6 committee, saying she colluded with witness Cassidy Hutchinson.
Loudermilk also said in his report that the January 6 committee was biased because it had only two Republicans, and that it created an “error-filled narrative.”
Cheney has called this report “defamatory” and a cover-up attempt.
Trump’s Truth Social post came after Greg Kelly’s Newsmax show that aired Tuesday night and discussed Loudermilk’s allegations against Cheney.
What People Are Saying
Cheney posted to Bluesky: “January 6th showed Donald Trump for who he really is – a cruel and vindictive man who allowed violent attacks to continue against our Capitol and law enforcement officers while he watched television and refused for hours to instruct his supporters to stand down and leave. Now, Chairman Loudermilk’s ‘Interim Report’ intentionally disregards the truth and the Select Committee’s tremendous weight of evidence, and instead fabricates lies and defamatory allegations in an attempt to cover up what Donald Trump did.”
Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, who chaired the January 6 committee, said in a statement: “His so-called ‘report’ is filled with baseless, conclusory allegations rather than facts. That’s because there’s no escaping the reality that Donald Trump bears the responsibility for the deadly January 6th attack no matter how much Mr. Loudermilk would love to rewrite history for his political purposes.”
Democratic Representative Norma Torres of California, ranking member of the Oversight Subcommittee, said in a statement: “Instead of focusing on the pressing safety challenges confronting Members of Congress and Capitol staff, this Subcommittee has spent taxpayer dollars defending the President-elect and spreading baseless conspiracy theories about the January 6th Select Committee.”
What Happens Next
If Trump’s nomination of loyalist Kash Patel as FBI director is confirmed by the Senate, Cheney could be investigated by the FBI.
Patel has been open about his desire to go after “government gangsters” in the “Deep State” who have criticized Trump.
Patel has also vowed to prosecute “to the fullest extent of the law” anyone who “in any way abused their authority for political ends.
