WASHINGTON (Reuters) -House of Representatives Republicans on Wednesday ejected Liz Cheney from their leadership ranks as punishment for repudiating former U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s false claims of a stolen election, but she remained defiant and made plans to seek re-election to Congress.<\/p>\n
Her ouster from her party\u2019s No. 3 post in the Democratic-led House unfolded in mere minutes in a closed-door meeting. The action signaled that Trump, despite losing to Democrat Joe Biden in November, has solidified his hold over House Republicans as he jockeys to play a major role in the 2022 congressional elections and flirts with running for president again in 2024.<\/p>\n
Cheney’s decision, disclosed by a spokesperson, to seek re-election next year for a fourth two-year term as the lone House member representing Wyoming here appears to set the stage for a clash between competing factions in a Republican Party facing a moment of reckoning over its future – either following Trump’s lead or finding a new path. Six Republicans already have lined up to challenge her in a heavily Republican state that Trump won with about 70 percent of the vote last year.<\/p>\n
After her removal, Cheney came out swinging, telling reporters moments later that she would lead the fight to bring her party back to \u201cfundamental principles of conservatism.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must go forward based on truth. We cannot both embrace the big lie and embrace the Constitution,\u201d Cheney said.<\/p>\n
Cheney has repeatedly rejected Trump\u2019s false claims of widespread voting fraud in the November election and depicted him as a threat to American democracy. She also vowed to prevent Trump from regaining the presidency.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will do everything I can to ensure that the former president never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office,\u201d Cheney told reporters.<\/p>\n
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During Trump\u2019s time as president, Republicans lost their majorities in the House and Senate and he lost the White House.<\/p>\n
Cheney, whose father Dick Cheney served as U.S. vice president from 2001 to 2009 after a previous stint in the House, is a lawmaker with impeccable conservative credentials. She was one of 10 House Republicans who voted with the Democrats in January when the House impeached Trump on a charge of inciting insurrection. Senate Republicans provided the votes to prevent Trump from being barred from holding future public office.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s January impeachment – his second – focused on an incendiary Jan. 6 speech in which he urged his followers to \u201cfight\u201d his election defeat on the day Congress met to formally certify Biden\u2019s victory. A pro-Trump mob then stormed the U.S. Capitol building, an attack that left five dead.<\/p>\n
Cheney\u2019s critics said her criticism of Trump\u2019s false claims distracted from party messaging opposing Democrats and Biden\u2019s agenda. Cheney rejected House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy\u2019s contention that Republicans must refrain from criticizing Trump to win back control of Congress in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have seen the danger that he continues to provoke with his language,\u201d Cheney said of Trump.<\/p>\n
McCarthy and Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, orchestrated Cheney\u2019s ouster. Asked if he was concerned about his own leadership position in the party after protecting Cheney up to now, McCarthy replied: \u201cNot at all. No, I\u2019m looking forward to being speaker in the next Congress.\u201d<\/p> \u2018HORRIBLE HUMAN BEING\u2019<\/p>\n In a statement issued after the vote, Trump launched personal attacks on her, saying, \u201cLiz Cheney is a bitter, horrible human being.\u201d He added, \u201cShe has no personality or anything good having to do with politics or our country.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked during an NBC interview if there is a battle now for the soul of her party, Cheney said, \u201cThis is I think the opening salvo in that battle, and it\u2019s a battle we have to win. Because it\u2019s not just about the Republican Party, it\u2019s about the country.\u201d<\/p> Asked about Trump\u2019s political team looking to coalesce behind a primary challenger to her, Cheney said, \u201cYou know, bring it on.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump and McCarthy have endorsed Representative Elise Stefanik here to succeed Cheney as party conference chair, a role that helps develop Republican positions on legislation and assists rank-and-file members on an array of issues.<\/p>\n Stefanik, who gained prominence as a Trump defender, has drawn criticism from some Republicans for a voting record that they portray as being out of step with conservatives. Republican House members will vote on her nomination on Friday, Representative Louie Gohmert told reporters.<\/p>\n After Cheney\u2019s removal, Stefanik released a letter to colleagues promising a \u201cdisciplined, unified message\u201d against Democrats and said she would highlight individual Republicans\u2019 conservative policies.<\/p>\n The Freedom Caucus, a group of Republican House members on the party\u2019s right flank, is close to Trump, and some of its members criticized McCarthy for anointing Stefanik as Cheney\u2019s replacement.<\/p>\n