WASHINGTON — Just days away from the first congressional hearing on the events of January 6, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Voice, called the Capitol attack a “conspiracy” and described its fallout as an “ongoing threat.”
“It’s extremely comprehensive. It’s extremely streamlined. It’s really cool,” Cheney said on “CBS Sunday Morning.”
The Wyoming lawmaker suggested that many members of the Republican Party turn a blind eye to attempts to sabotage the election of former President Donald Trump. The side has, in part, built a “personality cult” around Trump, which is protecting him from facing the consequences.
“We now have too many people in the Republican Party who are not taking their responsibility seriously enough and who have pledged their allegiance and loyalty to Donald Trump,” Cheney said. “It is fundamentally antithetical – it is the opposite of the conservative belief – to adopt a personality cult. And yet, that is what many people in my party are doing today.”
Cheney in particular called out House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, alleging that top House Republicans have chosen to embrace his party’s more hateful sectarians and have “turned their backs on the Constitution” in hopes of becoming the next House speaker. .
January 6 attack hearing:The long-awaited hearing of the January 6 committee promises revelations. Will a divided America want to listen to him?
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Thursday is the first of eight hearings on the Capitol attack on January 6. There have been several dramatic revelations on the committee’s findings.
Court records described the legal strategy behind Trump’s attempt to disallow votes in closely contested states. When Republican lawmakers discussed martial law, the texts depicted panic about violence among Trump’s relatives and aides. Closed-door testimony described Trump’s inaction for hours after the Capitol breach.
Cheney said he hoped the nation would heed the committee’s disclosures, which highlight the fragility of American democracy.
“People should watch and they should understand how easily our democratic system can crumble if we don’t defend it,” he said.
Contribution: Bart Janssen
