Special Poll
On a recent Sunday, Donald Trump intensified his campaign for legal action against Liz Cheney, the former Representative from Wyoming, over claims that she, along with other members of the January 6 committee, deliberately omitted testimony and information in their probe into Trump’s conduct during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Trump took to Truth Social to share an article by Kash Patel, a former aide during his administration, published in The Federalist. Patel accused Cheney and the committee of concealing evidence regarding Trump’s authorization of National Guard troops on the day of the riot.
Trump’s post vehemently called for Cheney’s prosecution, accusing her of illegally tampering with evidence and betraying the nation. He exclaimed, “SHE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE TO OUR COUNTRY! SHE ILLEGALLY DESTROYED THE EVIDENCE. UNREAL!!!”
Cheney, in response, refuted Trump’s allegations on X (previously Twitter), highlighting that Trump has had access to all relevant grand jury and January 6 transcripts for months. She accused him of attempting to delay his trial related to January 6, fearing testimony from his vice president, White House counsel, aides, campaign, and Department of Justice officials. Cheney’s message to Trump was clear: “You’re afraid of the truth and you should be.”
As the vice chair of the House January 6 committee, Cheney has been a vocal critic of Trump within the GOP, blaming him for inciting the Capitol riot. Her outspoken stance led to her defeat in the Wyoming 2022 primaries by Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman, reflecting Trump’s continued influence among Wyoming voters.
This exchange occurred shortly after House Republicans attempted to undermine the initial investigation into the Capitol riot with a new report aimed at exonerating Trump as he eyes a return to the political arena. The report, prepared by the House Administration Committee’s oversight subcommittee, labeled the original January 6 investigation as a biased endeavor against Trump.
A notable inclusion in the report was a contradiction of testimony from Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide, regarding Trump’s behavior on January 6. While Hutchinson had recounted hearing about Trump’s alleged attempt to steer the vehicle towards the Capitol, the driver of Trump’s car on that day testified otherwise, stating Trump did not attempt to take control of the vehicle.
This testimony was highlighted by Republicans as evidence of the committee’s failure to disclose information that could absolve Trump of responsibility for the events on January 6. However, The New York Times’ review of the driver’s testimony found support for Hutchinson’s account of Trump’s insistence on joining his supporters at the Capitol.
Trump is currently facing four felony charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The trial has been postponed as the Supreme Court considers whether Trump’s actions on January 6 are protected by presidential immunity, with Trump arguing that his role as president at the time exempts him from prosecution.