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Kevin McCarthy tried to convince Liz Cheney to apologize for the way she handled her vote to impeach former President Trump ahead of last week’s much-anticipated House GOP meeting – a request she declined , said two people with direct knowledge to Axios.
Why is this important: Cheney rolled the dice, turning down her leader’s request and counting on her supporters to keep her as conference chair, the party’s third position in the House. Newly empowered, she is now assuming her role as the Republicans’ chief critic for Trump.
What we hear: McCarthy, who was initially reluctant to hold a vote to oust Cheney, privately told her hours before Wednesday’s caucus meeting that their members wanted to hear her say she was sorry.
- He also suggested it might sway some of his opponents.
- Cheney’s team, however, did a whip tally and were confident they would get at least 142 votes, the sources said.
- A representative for McCarthy declined to comment.
Inside the room: “Several members have asked me to apologize for the vote, they have asked my colleagues who also voted for impeachment to apologize for the vote, ”Cheney (R-Wyo.) Told colleagues.
- “I can’t do this. It was a vote of conscience. It was a vote of principle – a principle that I stand by and still believe.”
- Towards the end of last week’s more than four-hour meeting, Cheney and members of the House Freedom Caucus demanded – for opposite reasons – that the conference take a vote. She ended up winning 145-61.
What to watch: Cheney is now looking to take advantage of his heightened profile.
- On Monday, she will host a virtual fundraising event, according to a copy of an invitation obtained by Axios.
- Notable guests include former Speaker of the House John Boehner; Sara Bonjean, a GOP fundraiser and wife of former congressional executive assistant Ron Bonjean; former Florida representative Ilheana Ros-Lehtinen; and former George W. Bush official, Maria Cino.
She also doubled on his conviction of the former president in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, telling Chris Wallace that Trump “has no role as leader of our party going forward.”
- “We lied to people,” Cheney said. “President Trump, for months leading up to January 6, spread the idea that the election was stolen … and people need to understand that.”
But, but, but: The criticism hasn’t completely gone away for Cheney.
- The Wyoming Republican Party voted on Saturday to censor her for Trump’s impeachment vote.
- She also retains many critics in the Freedom Caucus and national Republican circles.
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