Cheney Blames Trump For Threats Against GOP Lawmakers Over Speaker Vote, Is She Right?

Cheney cites Trump’s role in menacing GOP officials over Speaker selection

Liz Cheney, a former representative from Wyoming, highlighted the role of ex-President Trump and his followers in instigating threats against Republican legislators amidst the turmoil over the Speaker’s election. Speaking on “Face the Nation” on CBS News, Cheney underscored that Trump’s rhetoric and the actions of some of his advocates have fueled domestic intimidation and even led to instances of political unrest, referencing the events of January 6.

Cheney recounted an incident where a congressman, despite backing Jim Jordan of Ohio, clarified to others that the threats were not because of Jordan but due to those who opposed him. She condemned this stance, emphasizing that such tolerance or encouragement of hostility is unacceptable, both within the party and the nation.

The period preceding the recent Speaker vote saw emerging reports of a concerted effort to garner support for Jim Jordan among GOP members. Several representatives, including Drew Ferguson of Georgia and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, reported receiving death threats related to their stance on Jordan’s candidacy. These threats occurred when they shifted their support away from Jordan in subsequent votes.

Ken Buck, a Colorado representative, also revealed he got multiple death threats after showing support for Tom Emmer of Minnesota, while Don Bacon of Nebraska received anonymous threatening messages targeting his family due to his lack of support for Jordan.

Trump’s endorsement of Jordan, a known confidant, has brought fresh scrutiny, with some speculating about Jordan’s foreknowledge of Trump’s intentions before the Capitol disturbance on January 6, 2021.

The upheaval within the House, ongoing since the removal of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker, reflects deeper conflicts within the GOP. Despite initial support, the candidacy of Steve Scalise faltered, and Jordan’s renewed bid also failed to secure necessary backing, leading to a secret ballot decision by the House GOP to withdraw support from Jordan.

Now, with the Speaker race wide open and several Republicans expressing interest, the House plans for a candidate forum, followed by an internal nomination election. The cutoff for potential candidates to declare their intention was noon on the preceding Sunday.