Liz Cheney says Republicans must choose between Trump and the Constitution

Cheney, an outspoken Trump critic, chided GOP members who she said had made themselves “willing hostages to this dangerous and irrational man.” Now, she said, they face a choice.

“Republicans cannot be loyal to both Donald Trump and the Constitution,” she said.

The statement was met with applause.

Cheney’s comments come as the Jan. 6 House Select Committee holds hearings to investigate the deadly attack on the Capitol and how Trump and his allies attempted to overthrow the 2020 election. As vice chair of the committee, Cheney has taken a leading role in the investigation.

Once a rising star in the GOP, Cheney’s criticism of Trump has come at a high political cost. She was ousted from her leadership role last year for questioning Trump’s false claims that the election was stolen, and she was later disowned by Republicans in Wyoming. Cheney, too, faces an uphill battle in her fight for her seat in Congress. Against a major Trump-backed challenger, Cheney is trying to woo Democratic voters, The Washington Post reported.

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At Wednesday’s event, a speaker series titled “A Time For Choosing,” hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Cheney said threats to American democracy are mounting and the country is “on the brink of a precipice.” stand.

“As the bigger picture comes into view with the January 6 committee, it has become clear that the efforts that Donald Trump oversaw and was a part of were even more chilling and ominous than we could have imagined,” he said them, highlighting recent testimonies Trump wanted to lead the armed mob to the Capitol last year.

The bombshell testimony was delivered by Cassidy Hutchinson, a former assistant to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, on Tuesday during a surprise committee hearing. Cheney praised Hutchinson, saying her “courage and patriotism yesterday was magnificent to behold.” Trump has denied Hutchinson’s claims.

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Since the hearings began this month, Cheney has stressed that the GOP is at a crossroads, telling his Republicans that some in her party are “defending the untenable” and that “there will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but Your shame will remain.”

She repeated this theme on Wednesday.

“No party, people or nation can defend and uphold a constitutional republic if they accept a leader who has gone to war against the rule of law, against the democratic process, or against the peaceful transfer of power – against the constitution itself.” said Cheney.