Special Poll
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) responded firmly to President-elect Donald Trump’s recent comments suggesting that members of the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot should face jail time. Cheney characterized Trump’s remarks as a dangerous attack on the rule of law.
In a statement provided to The Hill, Cheney said, “Here’s the truth: Donald Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election and seize power. He mobilized an angry mob and sent them to the United States Capitol, where they attacked police officers, stormed the building, and disrupted the official counting of electoral votes.”
Cheney further criticized Trump’s actions during the riot, accusing him of inaction as the chaos unfolded. “Trump watched on television as police officers were brutally beaten and the Capitol was under siege, refusing for hours to tell the mob to leave,” she said. “This was the worst violation of our Constitution by any president in our nation’s history.”
She went on to condemn Trump’s suggestion that the lawmakers who investigated his conduct should face jail time, describing it as an ongoing attack on the principles of law and democracy. “Donald Trump’s suggestion that members of Congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional actions should be jailed is a continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic,” Cheney stated.
Trump’s comments came during an interview on “Meet the Press,” his first sit-down interview since his election victory in November. While he denied plans to explicitly direct his administration to pursue political adversaries, he suggested that members of the January 6 panel, including Cheney, deserved to be jailed for what he called “inexcusable” actions.
Cheney’s response highlights her ongoing criticism of Trump’s role in the January 6 events and her defense of the committee’s work in investigating the attack on the Capitol.