Former Representative Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, made a statement on social media after the U.S. Supreme Court heard former President Donald Trump’s case regarding presidential immunity. The case, Trump v. United States, involves Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. Trump’s legal team argued that presidents should have legal immunity for actions taken during their time in office. During the hearing, some justices expressed skepticism about absolute immunity for private acts but seemed open to some type of immunity for official acts by a president. Analysts predict that the Supreme Court may return the case to a lower court to determine whether the charges relate to official or private acts, potentially delaying Trump’s trial in the federal case.
Cheney, who has been a vocal critic of Trump since the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, urged the Supreme Court to rule quickly and decisively in Trump’s case. She argued that Trump’s actions related to the January 6 incident, such as pressuring Vice President Pence and state legislatures, overseeing a fraudulent elector scheme, and plotting to appoint an attorney general in exchange for help, were private acts. She highlighted that Trump filed a brief in his “personal capacity as a candidate” in the case. Trump has repeatedly criticized Cheney, suggesting she should go to jail along with other members of the House select committee investigating the Capitol riot. Despite voting with Trump over 90 percent of the time during her congressional tenure, Cheney has become one of his most outspoken critics.
In addition to the legal case, Cheney referenced Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in key states, as well as his pressure on Vice President Pence to refuse certification of the results on January 6. Pence declined, stating it would be unconstitutional to do so. Cheney’s comments reflect her ongoing opposition to Trump and his actions, even as she has faced criticism and backlash from within her own party. After being removed from her position as House Republican Conference chair and losing her primary in 2022 to a Trump-aligned candidate, Cheney has continued to be a prominent conservative voice warning about the dangers posed by Trump and his faction of the GOP. She has also served on the House select committee investigating the Capitol riot.
Overall, Cheney’s statement underscores the ongoing divide within the Republican Party over the legacy of the Trump presidency and its impact on American democracy. The Supreme Court’s handling of Trump’s case could have significant implications for presidential immunity and accountability, particularly in cases of alleged wrongdoing by former presidents. As the legal battle continues, the political and ideological rifts within the GOP show no signs of closing, with Cheney and other anti-Trump Republicans standing firm in their opposition to the former president and his influence on the party. The outcome of Trump’s case and the broader implications for the future of American politics remain uncertain as the debate over presidential immunity and accountability continues to unfold.
