Liz Cheney rips Vance over election certification remarks

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) sharply rebuked Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) on Tuesday for suggesting in an interview that he would not have certified the 2020 election if he were in former Vice President Mike Pence’s position on Jan. 6, 2021.

In a discussion Monday at the “All-In Podcast” summit, the Republican vice presidential nominee was asked at least three times whether he would have certified the 2020 election results.

“I would have asked the states to submit alternative slates of electors and let the country have the debate about what actually matters and what kind of an election that we have,” Vance said when asked again whether he would have certified the election.

Pressed on whether that means he would not have certified, Vance replied, “I would have asked the states to submit alternative slates of electors. That’s what I would have done.”

Cheney blasted Vance’s remarks in a post on the social platform X, calling such a move “illegal” and likening it to “tyranny.”

“Let’s be clear: This is illegal and unconstitutional,” Cheney wrote, responding to a clip of Vance’s comments. “The American people had voted. The courts had ruled. The Electoral College had met and voted. The Governor in every state had certified the results and sent a legal slate of electors to the Congress to be counted.”

“The Vice President has no constitutional authority to tell states to submit alternative slates of electors because his candidate lost. That is tyranny,” she said.

Many of the rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, were looking for Pence to urge him to reject certain slates of electors and send them back to the states, while other rioters that day wanted to hang him.

Cheney credited Pence with ensuring U.S. institutions remained intact after the Capitol attack by fulfilling his ceremonial duty to count the electoral votes, which had already been certified by each state. She expressed concern that Vance would not similarly uphold that duty if he becomes the next vice president.

“Our institutions held on Jan 6 because Mike Pence refused to violate his oath to the Constitution. Trump picked JD Vance because Vance will do whatever Trump wants, including violating the Constitution,” Cheney said.

“They are both far too dangerous to serve. It’s our duty to stop them,” she added.

The Hill has reached out to Vance’s team for comment.