Cheney says threats against GOP lawmakers over Speaker vote driven by Trump

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Sunday said threats against GOP lawmakers over the Speaker vote are “absolutely being driven” by former President Trump and his supporters.

Asked on CBS News’s “Face the Nation” about the surfacing threats towards some lawmakers amid the House Speaker chaos, Cheney said, “The domestic threats are absolutely being driven by Donald Trump and, unfortunately, some of his supporters who in fact have encouraged and taken steps that have resulted in, as we saw on January 6, political violence.”

She said that she was told one congressman who was supporting Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told members that the threats weren’t the fault of the Ohio Republican but of those who voted against him.

“That is the kind of encouragement and acceptance of violence that absolutely has no place in this party, should have no place in our country,” Cheney said.

In the days leading up to last week’s Speaker vote, rumors of a pressure campaign on Jordan’s holdouts began surfacing, with Jordan’s allies attempting to whip up support for the Ohio Republican.

A handful of lawmakers last week claimed they received death threats for either voting against Jordan or reversing their support for the Ohio Republican in later voting rounds.

Reps. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), who reversed their support for Jordan in the second round of voting after voting for him on the first ballot, both said last week they received death threats shortly after the second ballot.

Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said last Thursday he received at least four death threats in addition to a barrage of calls to his office after he voted for House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) on the first two ballots and eventually on the third.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who voted for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on the first two ballots and then Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) on the third, said his wife received anonymous texts and calls about his opposition to Jordan.

Trump, a close ally of Jordan, endorsed the Ohio Republican for Speaker, sparking renewed criticism over Jordan’s alleged involvement in Trump’s efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election.

Some have claimed Jordan had knowledge of Trump’s plans ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Chaos has enthralled the House for nearly three weeks since McCarthy was ousted from the top spot in a historic 216-210 vote. Eight Republicans joined all House Democrats in voting to take away the gavel from the California Republican.

The race for Speaker has faced several roadblocks as Republicans vying for the Speaker’s gavel struggle to shore up the 217 necessary votes amid conflict within the GOP conference.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (La.) initially clinched the GOP support and beat Jordan, but he dropped out a day later when it became apparent he would not reach the 217 votes.

Jordan put his name back in the ring and went on to secure the nomination against Rep. Austin Scott (Ga.). Jordan failed to reach 217 votes on three ballots last week, actually losing more GOP support with each round.

Following the third vote Friday, the House GOP voted by secret ballot to no longer back Jordan, sending the lower chamber back to square one.

Several Republicans have already thrown their name in for a Speaker’s bid, with a candidate forum expected to take place Monday at 6:30 p.m. The House will move to an internal nomination election Tuesday at 9 a.m.

The deadline for candidates to file their candidacies was Sunday at noon.