Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (L) and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn talk before the start of President Joe Biden's address, Washington, U.S., April 28, 2021. (Photo: Reuters)
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are expected to try to remove Liz Cheney from their party leadership for denouncing former President Donald Trump's false claim the election was stolen from him, said two Republican congressional sources.
One of the sources said they could vote as early as May 12, their next scheduled meeting after a two-week break.
The No. 3 House Republican and the 54-year-old daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney is famous for her firm anti-Trump stance. She was one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in January.
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said her criticism of Trump's false election claim had become a distraction from party messaging against Democratic President Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in November and took office in January.
"There's no concern about how she voted on impeachment. That decision has been made. I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair – to carry out the message," said McCarthy in an interview with Fox News.
"We all need to be working as one if we're able to win the majority. Remember, majorities are not given, they are earned. And that's about the message about going forward," he said, stressing that the party needs to work together instead of attacking one another.
Prior to the interview, McCarthy was caught on microphone saying he had "lost confidence" in Cheney, Axios reported. It released audio of the recording.
