OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Rep. Liz Cheney, the Wyoming Republican and vehement critic of Donald Trump who has been targeted for a primary challenge by a Trump-backed candidate, is using her position as co-chair of the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 to go after political opponents trying to unseat her, according to a report.
The Federalist noted on Wednesday that earlier this week, the committee, which was hand-picked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) revealed subpoenas for three advisers to the Trump family: Andrew Surabian and Arthur Schwartz, both of whom have advised Donald Trump Jr., and Ross Worthington, who helped craft Trump’s Jan. 6 speech.
All have been called on to provide the committee with requested documents and to give testimony between Jan. 31 and Feb. 2.
“The Select Committee is seeking information from individuals who were involved with the rally at the Ellipse,” Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., noted in a statement. “Protestors became rioters who carried out a violent attempt to derail the peaceful transfer of power. We have reason to believe the individuals we’ve subpoenaed today have relevant information.”
Noted The Federalist:
Except Surabian, who is advising the Wyoming Values Political Action Committee (PAC) in support of Cheney’s primary challenger attorney Harriet Hageman, had no involvement with the White House protest that the probe has sought to conflate with the violence at the Capitol.
“During the time period that the rally was being organized, Mr. Surabian was overseeing a Super PAC in support of Republican Senate candidates in Georgia,” Surabian attorney Daniel Bean said in a statement.
“Mr. Surabian is a close friend to Donald Trump Jr. and is running a Super PAC that opposes the reelection of one of the members of the committee. Accordingly, we believe this is nothing more than harassment of the Committee’s political opponents and is un-American to the core.”
The outlet continues:
Cheney faces a competitive primary for a fourth term as one of the most unpopular Republicans in the country. Out of three surveys conducted since Cheney’s escalated feud in the election’s aftermath, Cheney failed to land more than 25 percent support among likely primary voters, far short of the 40 percent vote share she earned in her first 2016 House primary.
Running again [in] a state Trump won by a higher margin than anywhere else in the country just more than a year ago, Wyoming Republicans soured on the lawmaker after the then-House GOP Conference chair joined Democrats in their snap-impeachment of the outgoing president. Nine Republicans ultimately joined Cheney in her vote to convict, several of whom already announced their intent to do so calling into question the influence of her highly publicized stunt.
In August, several Wyoming county Republican Party organizations censured Cheney.
“In the immortal words of the 45th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump …’You’re Fired!’” said letters sent recently to Cheney from GOP officials in Park and Carbon counties.
The following month, Trump came out and formally endorsed one of her primary challengers, Wyoming attorney Harriet Hageman, whom he said “is running against warmonger and disloyal Republican” Cheney.
“Harriet is a fourth-generation daughter of Wyoming, a very successful attorney, and has the support and respect of a truly great U.S. Senator, Wyoming’s own Cynthia Lummis,” Trump continued.
“Harriet Hageman adores the Great State of Wyoming, is strong on Crime and Borders, powerfully supports the Second Amendment, loves our Military and our Vets, and will fight for Election Integrity and Energy Independence (which [President Joe] Biden has already given up),” he added.
“Unlike RINO Liz Cheney, Harriet is all in for America First. Harriet has my Complete and Total Endorsement in replacing the Democrats number one provider of sound bites, Liz Cheney. Make America Great Again!” the former president concluded.
