Liz Cheney Ouster Vote Lamented by Democrats as Donald Trump Allies Rejoice
Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) being ousted from her position as House Republican Conference chair, a move allies of former President Donald Trump have celebrated as a victory for their faction.
Several House Democrats took issue with Cheney's ouster following criticisms of Trump.
The White House also said it was "disturbing" to see a leadership figure in any party facing attack from their own benches for "speaking the truth."
"Today is a sad day, and a measure of how lost the Republican Party is that they can't even stand Liz Cheney's presence," Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) tweeted. "They can't abide one minute longer the fact that she won't lie about what happened in the election. That's just sad. I applaud her courage."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said in a statement that Cheney was a "leader of great courage, patriotism and integrity," and argued that the GOP signaled they weren't interested in those values by ousting her from the leadership.
"The Republican denial of the truth presented by Congresswoman Cheney is reflected in their denial of the need to seek the truth in a January 6th commission and to repair the damage of January 6th with a security supplemental immediately," she added.
"For the sake of our democracy, reasonable Republicans across the country must take back their party."
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the House Intelligence Committee chairman, tweeted: "Romney voted his conscience and was booed. Cheney refused to echo Trump's Big Lie and was ousted. Soon there will be no one left in Trump's GOP to speak the truth."
The White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also said it was "disturbing to see any leader, regardless of party, being attacked for simply speaking the truth," and repeated President Joe Biden's view that the ouster was "hard to understand."
As Democrats lamented Cheney's exit from the GOP leadership, Trump's allies celebrated their victory in the internal party struggle. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) mimicked a football chant to mock the Wyoming Republican, and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) called her the "masthead of the Establishment."
"The GOP is moving forward with an America First agenda," Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) tweeted. "Liz Cheney continually put personal vendettas over the American people and was no longer in step with GOP leadership. I'm glad my colleagues agreed."
Trump himself welcomed the move in a statement released on Wednesday.
Newsweek has contacted as contacted the Republican National Committee for a response to the criticisms levelled at the party. Rep. Cheney's office has also been contacted for comment.
