Former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney has responded forcefully to President-elect Donald Trump following his threat to jail her and other members of the congressional panel that probed the events of January 6, 2021, at the Capitol.
During a discussion on NBC’s Meet The Press that aired on Sunday morning, Trump asserted that Cheney, along with a “committee of political thugs,” had eradicated all evidence related to their investigation.
“Cheney engaged in behavior that is unforgivable, together with Thompson and the other members of the un-selected committee of political thugs, as well as, you know, creeps,” the President-elect expressed, referring to Mississippi Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, the committee’s chair. “They wiped out and obliterated all evidence.”
“Cheney was at the center of it,” Trump went on. “Bennie Thompson was also involved, along with everyone on that committee. For their actions, honestly, they deserve to be imprisoned.”
In a statement cited by The New York Times, Cheney countered Trump’s assertions, labeling them as an “attack on the rule of law and the core principles of our republic.”
“Here’s the reality: Donald Trump sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and assume control,” Cheney remarked. “He incited a furious mob and directed them towards the United States Capitol, where they assaulted police officers, breached the building, and obstructed the lawful counting of electoral votes. Trump observed on television as police officers were viciously attacked and the Capitol was besieged, refraining for hours from instructing the mob to disperse.”
“This episode represented the most severe violation of our Constitution by any president in the history of our nation,” she added. “Donald Trump’s insinuation that members of Congress, who subsequently examined his unlawful and unconstitutional acts, deserve incarceration continues his assault on the rule of law and the fundamental principles of our republic.”
The investigative committee issued an 845-page report detailing their findings and supporting evidence in 2022, along with 140 transcripts of testimonies, emails, and voicemail communications. In a letter from the previous year, Thompson revealed that the committee had to request input from the executive branch regarding certain investigative materials to safeguard “law enforcement, sensitive operational details, and personal information that, if disclosed, could jeopardize witnesses’ safety.”
In her statement, Cheney addressed Trump’s skepticism regarding the integrity of the committee, asserting, “Donald Trump is fully aware that his allegations against the select committee are absurd and unfounded, as has been thoroughly documented, including by Chairman Thompson.”
“There is no reasonable factual or constitutional justification for what Donald Trump is proposing — a Justice Department inquiry into the actions of a congressional committee — and any attorney who tries to follow that path would soon find themselves facing disciplinary actions,” she added.
