GOP Members Threaten to Leave in Wake of Cheney Vote

In the wake of Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney (R) being ousted from her leadership position within the party, Cheney has vowed to not stay silent in her opposition to President Donald Trump (R). Shortly after GOP members voted against her, Cheney said that she remains a conservative, and she also expressed that she will fight to make sure that the GOP no longer embraces the former President.

President Trump released a scathing statement in opposition to Cheney, and more than 100 GOP members are planning to leave the party should the GOP continue to align itself with President Trump. During a time when the party faces infighting as a result of the 2020 presidential election, tension within the party continues to heighten after the Cheney vote and as they look to expand their ground in the upcoming 2022 midterm election.

In a statement given shortly after being voted out of her position, Cheney said that “remaining and ignoring the lie emboldens the liar” in reference to President Trump and a number of GOP members questioning the 2020 election results. “I will not participate in that,” she added, commenting that she “will not sit back and watch in silence while others lead our party down a path that abandons the rule of law and joins the former president’s crusade to undermine our democracy.”

In response, President Trump called Cheney “a bitter, horrible human being” who “has no personality or anything good having to do with politics or our Country.” No challenger has been announced to take over the position, but GOP members are now threatening to leave the party because of recent events and because of the vote.

The group of members includes former lawmakers and former governors, and they plan to release a letter outlining the threat.

In a preamble published by the New York Times, the members argue that “when in our democratic republic, forces of conspiracy, division, and despotism arise, it is the patriotic duty of citizens to act collectively in defense of liberty and justice.”