Last year, Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R) voted to impeach President Donald Trump (R), and the vote was met with backlash from prominent Republicans. In response, a number of Republicans rallied against Cheney, asking her to step down from her position as Conference Chair. While criticism against other lawmakers that voted against Trump have lost steam, the criticism against Cheney has subsisted with her being called "an obstruction to leadership unity."
On Twitter, Florida Rep. John Rutherford (R) called for Cheney’s resignation, arguing that “she has now become an obstruction to leadership unity and should step down from her leadership duties as Republican Conference chair and then go read 3 U.S. Code 15.”
She has now become an obstruction to leadership unity and should step down from her leadership duties as Republican Conference Chair and then go read 3 U.S. Code § 15.
— Rep. John Rutherford (@RepRutherfordFL) April 30, 2021
Last Monday, during a Republican retreat in Orlando, Cheney discussed the GOP field heading into both 2022 and 2024. Speaking to the New York Post, Cheney argued that “we have a number of interesting candidates, but I think that we’re going to be in a good position to be able to take the White House.” Moreover, “I do think that some of our candidates who led the charge, particularly the senators who led the unconstitutional charge, not to certify the election… that’s disqualifying.”
The comments have drawn backlash from Republicans across the country as Republicans look to unify ahead of the midterm election. Republican infighting has only grown as President Trump announced he would be campaigning during the midterm election to “primary” any GOP incumbents that did not support him or his policies. In contrast, Florida Senator Rick Scott (R), the Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, vowed to help reelect GOP incumbents, which will most likely pit him and President Trump during the election.
“I think that adherence to the Constitution, adherence to your oath has got to be at the top of the list,” Cheney added, speculating that it “certainly will be a factor that I’m looking at and I think a number of voters will be looking at as they decide about ’24.”
