Cheney rips Arizona election audit: ‘It is an effort to subvert democracy’

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) slammed an audit of the 2020 election in Maricopa County, Ariz., calling it an “effort to subvert democracy.”

Cheney weighed in on the audit on Friday, blasting it on Twitter. The GOP-controlled Arizona state Senate is overseeing an audit of more than 2.1 million votes cast in the county last year.

President Biden won narrowly Arizona over former President Trump by less than 11,000 votes, becoming the first Democrat to carry the state since 1996.

Biden specifically won 49.81 percent of the vote in Maricopa County, compared to Trump’s 47.65 percent.

“What is happening in Maricopa County is not an ‘audit,’ Cheney said on Twitter. “It is an effort to subvert democracy.”  

What is happening in Maricopa County is not an “audit.”

It is an effort to subvert democracy. https://t.co/TGPvj6a0MA

— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) June 11, 2021

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), another outspoken critic of the former president, backed Cheney’s comments on Saturday, tweeting “she ain’t wrong ya know…. #country1st.”

She ain’t wrong ya know…. #country1st

Cheney: GOP-Led Arizona Election Audit ‘An Effort to Subvert Democracy’ https://t.co/UGv9aJNeGj

— Adam Kinzinger (@AdamKinzinger) June 12, 2021

Cheney was ousted from her leadership post as House GOP Conference chairwoman last month for her repeated pushback on Trump’s false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

The Wyoming Republican was one of 10 GOP representatives who voted to impeach the former president for inciting the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which temporarily delayed Congress’ certification of the Electoral College results.

Cheney has continued to speak out against Trump’s unfounded election claims despite the pushback from her party.

Last month, Arizona state Sen. Paul Boyer (R), who supported the audit, said that he felt it was ruining the reputation of the state Senate.

“Looking back, I didn’t think it would be this ridiculous. It’s embarrassing to be a state senator at this point,” he said in May.