U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney on Friday told FOX News that her vote to impeach President Trump following the riots that occurred at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month was about protecting the Constitution.
“All of us have an obligation to the Constitution and obligation to do what what we believe is right, what our oath compels us to do that that is above politics and above partisanship,” Cheney said.
Cheney, the third ranking Republican in the House, has received backlash from some conservatives for her vote against Trump while other high profile Republicans have praised her despite thinking differently on the issue.
One high profile critic, Rep. Matt Gaetz from Florida, has lashed out at Cheney, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for how they’ve handled the issue.
Now Gaetz is planning on coming to Wyoming on Thursday to denounce Cheney. Critics have speculated that he’s doing this because he wants her job.
“I do not want her job. I unequivocally am not seeking a position in House Leadership,” Gaetz tweeted on Saturday.
“I also know Wyoming can do better,” he said.
If Cheney is concerned by Gaetz or others unhappy with her actions, she doesn’t let on to it.
“I think we’re going to have these discussions inside the conference, we have differences of opinion about a whole range of issues, including about this one,” Cheney said.
“And I anticipate and I’m confident that we will be united as a conference going forward, we recognize how important it is to make sure that we’re standing up and fighting against the policies of the Biden administration,” she said.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a rising conservative star in the House, voted differently on impeachment but signaled his support for Cheney immediately after the vote.
“Let’s get some truth on the record: @Liz_Cheney has a hell of a lot more backbone than most, & is a principled leader with a fierce intellect,” Crenshaw tweeted.
“She will continue to be a much needed leader in the conference, with my full support. We can disagree without tearing each other apart,” he said.
Cheney said Vice President Mike Pence deserves “tremendous praise” for not unilaterally rejecting electors despite pressure from President Trump.
“I think it’s important that what happened on January 6, never happens again,” she said. “Vice President Pence deserves our gratitude for standing firm for his constitutional oath for doing what he knew was right.”
