In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to attack former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and escalate his threat to see her prosecuted for opposing him. Trump’s post came after Cheney pushed back against a report released Tuesday by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), a MAGA ally defending Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot.
The report suggested that Cheney herself should be investigated by the FBI, which will soon be under new leadership once Trump assumes power in January. In the report, Loudermilk claimed the findings were not about taking sides but about uncovering the truth.
“It wasn’t to say one side was right, one side was wrong. It was to get to the facts of what really happened. Because you can’t fix a problem until you get to the root of the problem.” Cheney, who served as vice chair of the January 6 House Select Committee, issued a sharp rebuttal, told Politico.
“The January 6th Committee’s hearings and report featured scores of Republican witnesses, including many of the most senior officials from Trump’s own White House, campaign, and Administration,” she said. “The Department of Justice conducted its own independent investigation and reached the same fundamental conclusions.”
Undeterred by Cheney’s response, Trump fired back around 2:30 AM ET on Wednesday, amplifying Loudermilk’s allegations and signaling support for an FBI investigation into Cheney. “Liz Cheney could be in a lot of trouble based on the evidence obtained by the subcommittee, which states that ‘numerous federal laws were likely broken by Liz Cheney, and these violations should be investigated by the FBI.’
Thank you to Congressman Barry Loudermilk for a job well done. Newsmax, by Greg Kelly,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump’s overnight statement reinforces his continued animosity toward Cheney, who has been a vocal critic of the former president and his role in the January 6 attack.
Cheney’s leadership on the House Select Committee earned her praise from Trump’s opponents but also made her a target within the GOP, ultimately costing her reelection. The renewed push to investigate Cheney signals that Trump and his allies are prepared to revisit January 6-related inquiries, this time with a focus on Trump’s critics.
As Trump prepares for a potential second term, the rhetoric surrounding Cheney underscores the ongoing political fallout from the Capitol riot and its investigations.