OPINION:
Rep. Liz Cheney, Wyoming Republican, is in hot water with her state and constituents for voting in favor of impeaching Donald Trump — that’s DT Q. Citizen, not President Donald J. Trump.
But she won’t leave.
The Wyoming Republican Party’s central committee voted to censure her. Numerous county Republican committees voted to censure her. Several Republican politicos have announced plans to primary her in 2022.
But she still won’t leave.
“I’m not [leaving office],” Cheney told Chris Wallace on Fox News, Politico reported. “I think people all across Wyoming understand and recognize that our most important duty is to the Constitution. And as I’ve explained … the oath that I took to the Constitution compelled me to vote for impeachment.”
Perhaps.
Perhaps, too, it was a little bit of her loyalty to the political royalty of the Republican Party — the George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney types who seem to work with Democrats as much, if not more, than GOPers. Perhaps it was a little bit of her loyalty to the anti-Trump factions who couldn’t wait to see the Great Disrupter of Globalist Designs depart the White House — so as to get back to the business of behind-closed-door dealings and wheelings of elitist politicking.
Perhaps it was little bit of her loyalty to those players, and their loyalty to her, rather than her “oath” “to the Constitution,” that marked her stand on impeachment.
“[Cheney] has proven that she is out of step with the act majority of our conference and the Republicans across the nation,” said Rep. Matt Rosendale, Montana Republican, who called for Cheney to step aside from her No. 3 leadership spot in the party, as House Republican Conference Chair.
But she won’t leave.
“I’m honored to represent the people of Wyoming in Congress and will always fight for the issues that matter most to our state,” Cheney said, after the vote to censure her. “Foremost among these is the defense of our Constitution.”
Sure.
But where in the Constitution does it allow for impeachment of a private citizen?
Wyoming voters chose Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton in 2016 by a 70% to 22% margin.
Wyoming voters also chose Donald Trump over Joe Biden in 2020 by 70% to 27%.
That, combined with the eyebrow-raising claim that it’s valid to impeach a president who’s no longer president, makes Cheney an elitist, concerned more about taking down Trump than representing the will of her state, her constituents or even the Constitution.
She may not voluntarily leave now.
“Defiant Cheney Says She Won’t Quit After Wyoming GOP’s Censure,” Bloomberg wrote.
But voters will have the last say. In 2022, when she faces reelection, she almost certainly will leave then.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “Socialists Don’t Sleep: Christians Must Rise Or America Will Fall,” is available by clicking HERE.
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