Lindsey Graham comes to Liz Cheney’s defense

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Tuesday defended Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.), the No. 3-ranking Republican in the House who has come under fire for her vote to impeach former President Trump.

Graham called Cheney a valuable asset to the Republican Party as many GOP members of Congress have targeted the congresswoman over her impeachment vote.

“I believe [Cheney] is one of the strongest and most reliable conservative voices in the Republican Party,” Graham said in a tweet. “She is a fiscal and social conservative, and no one works harder to ensure that our military is well prepared.”

Graham added, “In the eyes of many – Liz Cheney’s experience, leadership, and strength are invaluable to the Republican Party.”

Liz knows that a strong America is a safe America. She believes we must confront radical Islam and take the fight to them to ensure there are no more 9/11’s.

In the eyes of many – Liz Cheney’s experience, leadership, and strength are invaluable to the Republican Party.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 2, 2021

The senator’s statement comes just hours after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) issued a similar defense of Cheney while blasting Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a staunch defender of Trump who has faced fierce criticism for promoting a number of conspiracy theories.

“Liz Cheney is a leader with deep convictions and the courage to act on them,” McConnell said to CNN of the Wyoming lawmaker.

On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) plans to hold a meeting of rank-and-file Republicans as some members are looking to oust Cheney from her leadership position over her impeachment vote.

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) are circulating a petition to demand Cheney resign from her post as chairwoman of the House GOP conference, The Hill reported.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has spent time in Wyoming in recent days, railing against Cheney during small gatherings of Trump supporters.

“I think you’ll have, you know, three constituencies in our conference — those who want to drive out the populists, those who want to drive out the establishment and those who simply want peace,” Gaetz said on Monday.

Graham, a top ally of Trump while he was still in office, has since backed off unfounded claims of voter fraud peddled by Trump and his allies and said it is time for the party and the country to move on.

He, along with McConnell and all but five other GOP senators, voted in favor of a measure introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) arguing the second impeachment of Trump was unconstitutional because he has already left office.

The House impeached Trump after a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol Building on Jan. 6.