House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is weighing in on a potential candidate to replace Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the No. 3 House Republican.
During an interview on “PBS NewsHour,” Pelosi addressed House Republicans’ effort to oust Cheney from her leadership position.
“I don’t get involved in their caucus, and they don’t get involved in mine,” she said on Wednesday. “I do speak to the fact that Liz Cheney has been very courageous in speaking truth about what happened on January 6. And I salute her for that.”
She continued, “What they’re doing to her is indicative of what they’re doing about the entire event that happened on January 6. They’re, again, in denial.”
Watch the video below (starting at 30:40):
Cheney, one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach then-President Donald Trump, is facing a new effort to oust her from her leadership position as she has not been afraid to speak out against his unfounded claims of widespread fraud in the election.
She has also said she does not believe Trump should be a leader of the party and argued Republicans must push back on the former president’s claims about the election.
House Republicans appear to be lining up support for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who is a supporter of Trump, to replace Cheney.
When asked for her thoughts on the New York Congresswoman, Pelosi said, “That’s really up to them. Maybe she’s more, shall we say, compliant. It’s not my business. I don’t really know her, and I don’t as I say, they don’t get involved.”
As the push to oust Cheney from leadership appeared to be gaining steam, Pelosi’s office released a mock “help wanted” ad.
“Word is out that House GOP Leaders are looking to push Rep. Liz Cheney from her post as House Republican Conference Chair – their most senior woman in GOP leadership – for a litany of very Republican reasons: she won’t lie, she isn’t humble enough, she’s like a girlfriend rooting for the wrong team, and more,” it read.
It continued, “So what exactly are House GOP Leaders looking for in a #3? Punchbowl AM got the scoop and, well, it’s not surprising… they want a woman who isn’t a ‘threat’ to them.”
During an interview on Steve Bannon’s radio show Thursday, Stefanik implied that Trump will factor into Republicans’ calculations in the midterm election.
“My vision is to run with support from the President and his coalition of voters,” she told Bannon, adding, “This is also about being one team. I’m committed to being a voice and sending a clear message that we are one team, and that means working with the President and working with all of our excellent Republican members of Congress.”
