Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said Tuesday she would avoid any move that might help former President Donald Trump in his quest for a return to the White House, adding that he faces consequences if when he tries to overturn the 2020 election.
Cheney, a harsh Trump critic who is being considered the likely 2024 presidential nominee after failing to win re-election in Wyoming last November, was interviewed onstage at the Aspen Ideas Festival by NBC News’ Lester Holt. When asked if she would pursue a third-party presidential nomination, Cheney replied, “I’m not going to do anything to help Donald Trump.”
Cheney added that she will make a decision on her future plans “later this year,” but said her biggest concern is ultimately blocking Trump.
“The way I think about where we are and what needs to be done is a lot less about what I should do to decide whether or not to run and it’s a lot more about supporting Donald Trump stop whatever it takes,” Cheney told Holt. “But also to help choose other good candidates after the election.”
Cheney also commented on Trump’s historic federal indictment over his alleged misuse of top secret files, citing Trump’s tape containing a document compiled by General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when he was president, regarding possible attacks Iran is another example of why Trump should not run in the White House again.
“There is no question that he is unfit to be President of the United States,” she said.
Trump, who pleaded not guilty to all 37 counts, said his words in the CNN-aired footage amounted to “bravery” and claimed he had kept nothing from the people working on his former chief of staff Mark Meadows’ memoir who attended the 2021 meeting in Bedminster, New Jersey.
“I was talking and just holding up papers and talking about it, but I had no documents,” Trump said said ABC News and Semafor. “I had no documents.”
Cheney, who was vice chair of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 riot, added that she would like to see him face consequences for his actions related to the Capitol riot.
“I think it’s fundamental that not only the foot soldiers are held accountable for what happened, but that the responsibility goes all the way up,” Cheney said. “The most important thing is that Donald Trump never comes near the Oval Office again.”
The Jan. 6 panel referred four criminal charges against the former president to the Justice Department last year: obstructing an official process, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make false statements, and inciting an insurrection against the United States.
“Given what we know he did, given the extent to which we know he attempted to overthrow the election, given his direct involvement in the sham election scheme, given the extent to which he Insurgency has at least supported and embedded participants, “Failing to press charges and ensure that he is held accountable poses a real threat to the Republic,” Cheney said.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, assigned to oversee the DOJ’s investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, is reportedly nearing the end of his job.
His team reportedly interviewed Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s former personal attorney, who urged the former president to contest election results in contested states and spread unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud.