Trump is not happy.
In a recent statement, former President Trump reiterated his stance on the need for legal action against former Representative Liz Cheney regarding her involvement in the investigation into the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Trump, using the Truth Social platform, shared an article penned by former Trump administration aide Kash Patel, published in The Federalist. Patel’s article accuses Cheney and other members of the January 6th committee of deliberately suppressing evidence concerning Trump’s authorization of National Guard troops during the insurrection.
Expressing his dissatisfaction, Trump emphasized Cheney’s alleged misconduct and advocated for her prosecution, labeling her actions as detrimental to the country. Trump’s remarks were accompanied by a link to Patel’s article on Truth Social.
Responding to Trump’s call for her imprisonment, Cheney took to the platform formerly known as Twitter, dismissing Trump’s accusations as false. She pointed out that Trump had access to all the pertinent transcripts for months, insinuating that his efforts to derail the January 6th trial were motivated by fear of incriminating testimony from various individuals associated with his administration.
Cheney, who served as vice chair of the House January 6th committee, has consistently held Trump responsible for instigating the Capitol riot. Despite her vocal criticism of the former president, Cheney lost her congressional seat in Wyoming to a Trump-endorsed candidate during the 2022 primaries.
The exchange between Trump and Cheney comes amidst renewed efforts by House Republicans to undermine the initial investigation into the January 6th attack. The recently released House Administration Committee’s oversight subpanel report portrays the January 6th select committee’s inquiry as a partisan endeavor aimed at tarnishing Trump’s image rather than seeking truth and accountability.
One notable detail from the report involves conflicting testimonies regarding Trump’s behavior on January 6th. While former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson alleged that Trump attempted to take control of a vehicle to head towards the Capitol, the driver of Trump’s car disputed this claim, stating that Trump did not grab the steering wheel or attempt to move to the front seat.
Republicans have seized upon the driver’s testimony to bolster their argument that Trump bears no responsibility for the events of January 6th. However, a transcript of the driver’s testimony suggests that he did corroborate Hutchinson’s account of Trump’s desire to join the crowd at the Capitol.
Meanwhile, Trump faces legal challenges stemming from his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. His trial has been delayed pending a Supreme Court decision on whether his actions on January 6th are shielded by presidential immunity. Trump contends that he cannot be prosecuted due to his status as president at the time of the events.
