House

Cheney hoping for GOP members of Jan. 6 panel who are ‘committed to upholding the rule of law’

by Joseph Choi - 07/14/21 12:15 PM ET

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said she feels it is important to have Republican lawmakers who “are committed to upholding the rule of law,” serve on the Jan. 6 select committee.

In her first interview since becoming the only Republican congress member appointed to the select panel to investigate the events of Jan. 6, Cheney told CNN, “It’s very important that we have members who are committed to upholding the rule of law and members who are committed to their oaths to the Constitution.”

“And I would certainly hope that the minority leader will be guided by that as he makes his choices,” Cheney said of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

CNN notes that it is unlikely McCarthy will heed Cheney’s remarks, having pushed for her to be removed as House Republican Conference chair after she voted in favor of impeaching former President Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. McCarthy opposed the creation of the committee and CNN notes that he has said he has not decided whether he will appoint anyone to the committee.

On July 1, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced that she had appointed Cheney to serve on the select committee investigating the attack on the Capitol, saying, “We’re very honored and proud that she has agreed to serve on the committee.”

“I will absolutely stand for the truth and I will reject partisanship — wherever it comes in,” Cheney told CNN. “And I think that’s been very clear from the beginning of this: my obligation is to the Constitution.”

According to Cheney, the rest of the members of the committee — all Democrats — have been welcoming and professional so far.

“My presence makes it bipartisan, but what is even more important to me is the way that the committee is going to conduct itself,” Cheney said of concerns that the committee’s work would quickly become politicized. “And I’m very dedicated to operating in a way that really does reflect the gravity of this attack.”