Updated May 12, 2021 at 10:06 AM ET
House Republicans have removed Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming as conference chair in retaliation for her unyielding criticism of former President Donald Trump, his continued false claims of a stolen election, his role in the Jan. 6 riot and his future in the Republican Party.
"I will do everything I can to ensure that the former president never again gets anywhere near the Oval Office," Cheney told reporters after her ouster, which was done by a voice vote.
The move marks the second time this year that Cheney faced a vote from her fellow House Republicans to remove her from her leadership position. But this time, she didn't have the support of top Republicans like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who openly endorses a candidate to supplant her.
Cheney's removal, which was widely expected, likely marks the end of her rise in the Republican Party — an ascent that began shortly after her election to the House in 2016. Cheney was among the most conservative members of Congress: She espoused traditional Republican views on foreign policy and national security, the economy and social issues. But the Trump presidency, her criticism of the president and her vote to impeach him turned her party against her.
Still, after Wednesday's vote, Cheney appeared undeterred, telling reporters the nation needs a strong GOP — and that she plans to lead it.
"The nation needs a party that is based upon fundamental principles of conservatism, and I am committed and dedicated to ensuring that that's how this party goes forward, and I plan to lead the fight to do that," she said. Cheney plans on running for reelection in 2022.
But first she has to contend with her own role in the party. McCarthy, who helped Cheney thwart a vote to remove her from House GOP leadership in February, sent a letter Monday to rank-and-file Republicans announcing a conference vote Wednesday on Cheney's position.
"If we are to succeed in stopping the radical Democrat agenda from destroying our country, these internal conflicts need to be resolved so as to not detract from the efforts of our collective team," he wrote. "Having heard from so many of you in recent days, it's clear that we need to make a change."
The "internal conflicts" he references stem from Trump's repeated false statements that the 2020 election was rigged against him, as well as the former president's role in the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6.
In Tuesday night remarks on the House floor, Cheney pointedly accused Trump of fomenting the deadly insurrection.
"Today, we face a threat America has never seen before: A former president who provoked a violent attack on this Capitol, in an effort to steal the election, has resumed his aggressive effort to convince Americans that the election was stolen from him," Cheney said.
"He risks inciting further violence," she continued. "Millions of Americans have been misled by the former president. They have heard only his words, but not the truth, as he continues to undermine our democratic process, sowing seeds of doubt about whether democracy really works at all."
Cheney added: "I will not sit back and watch in silence, while others lead our party down a path that abandons the rule of law and joins the former president's crusade to undermine our democracy."
Trump has cheered Cheney's ousting and on Wednesday morning issued a statement saying House Republicans "have a great opportunity today to rid themselves of a poor leader, a major Democrat talking point, a warmonger, and a person with absolutely no personality or heart!"
Hours later, he issued another statement after the vote, calling Cheney a "bitter, horrible human being."
Cheney has been steadfast in her criticism of Trump, publicly arguing that he has no place in the present or future of the party. That's at odds with the majority of House Republicans, including McCarthy, who are counting on Trump's support to help them win back the House next year.
Republicans argue that Cheney's position on the former president puts her out of step with the GOP conference, which makes her job to carry out party messaging untenable.
Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., put it succinctly when he told Fox's Sean Hannity that "the people who try to erase [Trump] are going to wind up getting erased."
Cheney acknowledged the blowback in a recent op-ed in The Washington Post but argued that fidelity to the Constitution and democracy is worth any political repercussions she might face.
McCarthy is publicly backing Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York to take over Cheney's leadership role.
Stefanik is a moderate-turned-Trump loyalist who became a national star during Trump's first impeachment hearings. She joined 138 House Republicans in voting to object to the Electoral College counts in Pennsylvania and has the support of Trump.
It's unclear when the vote on Stefanik will take place.
"I think a deliberative effort would serve the conference well and all involved," Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., the vice-chair of the conference, told reporters Wednesday morning. "I don't think we should rush such an important decision."
Despite some criticism among Republicans over her more moderate voting record, Stefanik appears to have enough support from leading conservatives to secure the leadership spot.
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