Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) continued her public attack on Donald Trump – and further distanced herself from Republican leaders – in an interview today with NBC anchor Lester Holt at the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Holt asked Cheney what she thought of Republicans’ criticism of the Department of Justice over what they term a “sweetheart deal” for Hunter Biden. His question: “Do you think we have a two-tiered justice system?"
Cheney, known more as a never-Trumper than a Biden apologist, had this unexpected response:
“Look, the U.S. attorney who was responsible for the Hunter Biden investigation was appointed by Donald Trump. The Department of Justice, in the statement they made about the deal, said the investigation goes on. As a nation, I think it’s very important that (justice system) not be infected by politics. One of the things I’ve been really moved by is the extent to which so many of our federal judges have recognized the danger of what happened January 6."
“The attacks that we’re seeing from Republicans on (Attorney General) Merrick Garland and (FBI Director) Christopher Wray are unfounded. They ought to understand and recognize the danger they are fomenting by suggesting that this is all political. This is serious business.”
Holt followed up: Is there any truth to Trump’s claim that the DOJ has been weaponized? Cheney’s response: “No.”
Cheney didn’t hold back about Trump.
“I think the single most important issue that faces this nation – and we face a huge array of challenges and threats, and they’re very complex – but the simple most important issue is that Donald Trump never be anywhere near the Oval Office again.”
Cheney added, “There’s simply no question that he’s unfit to be president of the United States. Accountability really matters. It’s crucially important that Donald Trump be held accountable for what he did to this country on January 6 and leading up to it.”
Asked by Holt why Republicans are rejecting her message, Cheney had sharp words for the leaders of her party.
“We’re at a moment now with the Republican Party we’ve never seen before in this country. There are multiple factors at play. One is the cult of personality going on. Another is that leaders in the Republican Party who know that what I’m saying is true, who know how dangerous he is, are unwilling to say so."
“There’s a sense that we’re just bystanders here, so the lies have gone unanswered. Millions of really good and honorable Americans have been betrayed. They still believe what Donald Trump is saying. Those members of Congress and elected officials around the county who know the truth but are refusing to say so are complicit in the damage that is being done to the republic.”
Cheney said the Republican Party had one clear decision to make.
“The choice is whether you support the Constitution, or you support Donald Trump. Those are mutually exclusive. If the Republican Party moves toward nominating Trump, it’s moving day after day down this path of being unsalvageable.”
