The Republican National Committee (RNC) has just voted to officially censure Reps. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).
The two GOP lawmakers were censured over their participation in the Democrats’ special House committee “investigating” the Jan. 6 riot on Capitol Hill.
“We’ve had two members engage in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engaged in legitimate political discourse,” RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel said.
“This has gone beyond their original intent.
“They are not sticking up for hard-working Republicans.
“Once it passed, there was applause in the room,” McDaniel said of the resolutions committee passing the motion last night that was the first step to the formal censure that happened today.
According to The Hill, “Only a smattering of ‘nos’ were heard in the sea of ‘yes’ votes, though it was unclear who precisely voted in support of and opposition to the package.”
“The leaders of the Republican Party have made themselves willing hostages to a man who admits he tried to overturn a presidential election and suggests he would pardon Jan. 6 defendants, some of whom have been charged with seditious conspiracy,” Cheney said.
“I’m a constitutional conservative and I do not recognize those in my party who have abandoned the Constitution to embrace Donald Trump.
“History will be their judge.
“I will never stop fighting for our constitutional republic. No matter what.”
The Wyoming GOP will use this vote to solidify a deal they made with the RNC to help fund Cheney’s challenger in the primary.
The national party usually stays out of primaries but Cheney has some big-money backers so this move will ensure Harriet Hageman has the financial resources to beat Cheney.
From The Washington Post:
As the party met in Salt Lake City this week, the leaders of the Wyoming GOP privately signed a special letter that would allow the national party to financially support Harriet Hageman, Cheney’s primary challenger.
The letter officially recognizes Hageman as the presumptive nominee for the seat.
In response to the party passing the “Rule 11” resolution that could fund Cheney’s challenger, a spokesman for Cheney said:
“Wyoming Party Chairman Frank Eathorne and the Republican National Committee are trying to assert their will and take away the voice of the people of Wyoming before a single vote has even been cast.”
Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel also worked behind the scenes with David Bossie, a top Trump ally, to author and push a resolution that attacked Cheney’s work on the committee, called her a “destructive” force in the GOP and vowed the party would no longer support her.
A Cheney spokesman said of the deal:
“Wyoming Party Chairman Frank Eathorne and the Republican National Committee are trying to assert their will and take away the voice of the people of Wyoming before a single vote has even been cast.”
Kinzinger said:
“I have no regrets about my decision to uphold my oath of office and defend the Constitution.
“I will continue to focus my efforts on standing for truth and working to fight the political matrix that’s led us to where we find ourselves today.”
#Wyoming GOP privately signed a special letter that would allow the national party to financially support Harriet Hageman, Cheney’s primary challenger. The letter officially recognizes Hageman as the presumptive nominee.
https://t.co/YDQyYmhVNw— DottieSilentNoMore (@DottieFincham) February 4, 2022
Here is the draft censure resolution from Trump ally Dave Bossie and RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel against Rep. Liz Cheney. pic.twitter.com/EJ7O0XyUAk
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) February 4, 2022
