President-elect Donald Trump threw his support behind a request for the FBI to launch an investigation into former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney, a move that stems from her role in spearheading Congress’s inquiry into the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.
Trump, set to reclaim the White House on January 20, has made it clear that he intends to seek retribution against those he views as adversaries, such as prosecutors who pursued criminal cases against him during his previous term and former officials whom he believes obstructed his agenda from 2017 to 2021.
Additionally, Trump has floated the idea of potentially granting clemency to some of the over 1,250 individuals facing criminal charges in connection with the January 6 assault, which aimed at overturning his defeat in the 2020 election. The violent incident resulted in injuries to more than 140 police officers, the deaths of five individuals, including a police officer, and inflicted over $2.8 million in damages on the Capitol.
In an early morning post on his Truth Social platform, Trump remarked, “Liz Cheney could face severe repercussions based on the findings of the subcommittee, which assert that she likely violated numerous federal laws. These alleged infractions should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI.”
The statement referenced a report released on Tuesday by the Republican-controlled House Administration Oversight Committee, which called for an inquiry into Cheney. Cheney, the daughter of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, lost her bid for re-election in 2022.
Responding to the report, Cheney contended that it constituted an effort to downplay Trump’s involvement in the events of January 6. In a social media post on Bluesky, she asserted, “Their accusations are unfounded and do not align with an examination of the actual evidence. This represents a malevolent and baseless attack on the truth. No reputable legal professional, lawmaker, or judge would give credence to these claims.”
The ongoing saga between Trump and Cheney underscores the deep political divisions within the Republican Party and the broader societal repercussions of the Capitol attack. The clash between Trump’s loyalists and those seeking accountability for the violence of January 6 continues to play out against the backdrop of heightened tensions and growing uncertainty within the political landscape.
