Former Representative Liz Cheney and President-elect Donald Trump engage in a heated exchange over the handling of evidence by the January 6 Committee.
According to Fox News, Trump suggested during an NBC "Meet the Press" interview that Cheney and other committee members should face jail time for allegedly destroying evidence related to the January 6 investigation.
The controversy stems from Trump's allegations that Cheney, along with committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson and other members, deliberately deleted and destroyed evidence during their investigation. Cheney responded forcefully to these accusations, characterizing them as "ridiculous and false" while defending the committee's work.
House Republicans earlier this year released a report claiming the select committee had deleted records and employed Hollywood producers to promote a specific political narrative. The report, led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk, alleged that over one hundred deleted or password-protected files were recovered, with some deletions occurring just days before Republicans assumed House majority.
Cheney cited a July 2023 letter from Thompson to Loudermilk explaining that the committee had worked with the federal government to properly archive sensitive materials. The archiving process aimed to protect witness safety, national security, and ongoing law enforcement operations.
Trump made his accusations during a pre-recorded interview, where he stated:
Cheney did something that's inexcusable, along with Thompson and the people on the un-select committee of political thugs and, you know, creeps. They deleted and destroyed all evidence.
The January 6 committee, which operated during Democratic control of the House, consisted of seven Democrats and two Republican lawmakers - Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. Both Republicans are no longer serving in Congress.
The committee concluded its 18-month investigation last year when Republicans regained control of the House. Their final action included sending referrals to the Justice Department recommending criminal prosecution of Trump for his alleged role in the Capitol breach.
Cheney has maintained her position against Trump, recently campaigning with Vice President Kamala Harris to rally Democratic support. During a Wisconsin campaign event, she urged supporters to reject what she called "the depraved cruelty of Donald Trump."
Recent speculation has emerged regarding potential "preemptive pardons" that President Biden might issue to individuals perceived as Trump's political opponents, including Cheney, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and California Senator-elect Adam Schiff. Cheney has not commented on whether she would accept such a pardon.
In her latest response to Trump's accusations, Cheney delivered a strong rebuke:
Here is the truth: Donald Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election and seize power. He mobilized an angry mob and sent them to the United States Capitol, where they attacked police officers, invaded the building and halted the official counting of electoral votes. Trump watched on television as police officers were brutally beaten and the Capitol was assaulted, refusing for hours to tell the mob to leave.
Cheney has called for the preservation and public disclosure of materials from Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump and the 2020 election, emphasizing the importance of transparency in the process.
The dispute between Trump and Cheney represents the continuing fallout from the January 6 investigation and its impact on American politics. Trump's allegations about evidence destruction and calls for committee members' imprisonment have intensified the debate over the committee's work and its conclusions regarding the Capitol breach. As Trump prepares to return to office, questions remain about how these developments will affect the legal proceedings surrounding January 6 and the broader political landscape.
