Hogan: GOP devolving into ‘circular firing squad’ with Cheney ouster

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) warned Sunday that the Republican Party is becoming a “circular firing squad” that is purging itself of any member not seen as sufficiently loyal to former President Trump.

Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Hogan told host Chuck Todd that the House GOP’s likely upcoming vote to oust Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) as the House Republican Conference chairwoman showed how the party is distracted from opposing Democrats and is instead focused on internal battles.

“Well, it’s sort of a circular firing squad where we’re just attacking members of our own party instead of focusing on solving problems or standing up and having an argument that we can debate the Democrats on some of the things that the Biden administration is pushing through,” Hogan explained.

Cheney, one of a small number of House Republicans who supported Trump’s second impeachment earlier this year, is seen as likely to be ousted as chairwoman of the House Republican Conference this week and  replaced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.).

The Maryland governor, himself a top critic of the former president, went on to denounce the party’s apparent requirement of “fealty” to Trump for leadership positions in Congress.

“I think they’re concerned about retaliation” from Trump, Hogan said.

“They’re concerned about, you know, being attacked within the party. And, you know, it just bothers me that you have to swear fealty to the dear leader or you get kicked out of the party. It just doesn’t make any sense,” he added.

The Maryland governor was one of a handful of GOP leaders who came out in support of Trump’s impeachment after a mob of pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and attempted to block Congress’s certification of the 2020 election results.

Hogan also applauded President Biden after a televised address in March and thanked him for ramping up the production of COVID-19 vaccines.