Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to eject Liz Cheney from her leadership post in caucus, a move likely to cement their dependence on former president Donald Trump ahead of the 2022 elections.
Liz Cheney, who was the No. 3 Republican in the House, has repeatedly bashed Trump for spreading the lie that the 2020 election was rigged against him.
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wy.) has been removed from House GOP leadership following a closed-door voice vote among Republicans in the chamber, according to multiple sources.
Cheney’s ouster comes following weeks of conflict with the rest of House Republican leadership and the general membership over her repeated public statements on the floor regarding the 2020 election, former-President Donald Trump, and the January 6 riot at the capitol building. Many of the president’s supporters called on leadership to hold a vote on removing her, which Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy granted earlier this week.
The Wednesday morning vote was held behind closed doors and was a voice vote, so there will be no count of who was officially for or against her, though some Republicans, like Lance Gooden of Texas, have publicly remarked on social media what their vote was.
House GOP votes to oust Liz Cheney from leadership, opening door for Elise Stefanik
Updated May 12, 2021;
Posted May 12, 2021
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., arrives at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, May 12, 2021, as House GOP members met to remove her from a leadership role for rebuking former President Donald Trump over his false claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) APAP
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Washington – House Republicans voted today to oust Rep. Liz Cheney from a leadership role, opening the door for Upstate New York Rep. Elise Stefanik to succeed her as the GOP’s conference chair.
The vote was taken behind closed doors. CNN reported that Cheney was removed by a voice vote and members were not required to fill out ballots.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Wednesday that he believes Joe Biden is the legitimate president I don t think anybody is questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election, I think that is all over with, McCarthy told reporters outside the White House
He added: We are sitting with the president today
The comments are confusing considering they came just after he facilitated a vote Wednesday to remove Liz Cheney as GOP Conference chair
The vote took place after Cheney refused to back claims from the party and Donald Trump that Biden s election win was illegitimate
The White Huse hosted McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer