Former United States President Donald Trump called Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney a "despicable human being" after the latter hinted that the House Select Committee could make a criminal referral of the former president to the Justice Department.
The Republican businessman's remarks come a day after the congresswoman said in an interview that the former president could be prosecuted over his role in the Capitol Hill riot. Trump claimed that the people of Wyoming hated Cheney and noted that the lawmaker was part of a "fake unselect committee.
Despicable Human Being
The former president also said that even Democrats did not know what Cheney was talking about. He also questioned why the Wyoming Republican did not press charges instead against those that cheated on the election or those who did not properly protect the Capitol.
In his following post, Trump questioned why the committee, which he said was filled with "thugs," did not go after the people who have been rioting, burning down cities, leading the massive crime wave, and killing many in the United States, including drug and human traffickers, as per the New York Post.
The former president's remarks to Cheney, who is one of only two Republicans who are part of the House Select Committee, the other being Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, come after the Wyoming lawmaker accused Trump of potential criminal liability in connection with the unrest during the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill insurrection.
Cheney said that the Justice Department will have final authority to decide on the possibility of handing Trump criminal charges. The Wyoming Republican has become one of the former president's staunchest critics after she joined 10 other House Republicans on Jan. 13, 2021, to vote for the Republican businessman's impeachment over the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot.
According to Newsweek, the tension between the two Republicans comes as Cheney is facing the herculean task of winning the GOP nomination over Trump should they both choose to run in 2024. In a recent interview, the Wyoming representative acknowledged the possibility of her running for president in the next elections.
Trump vs. Cheney
"I'm obviously very focused on my re-election. I'm very focused on the Jan. 6 committee. I'm very focused on my obligations to do the job that I have now. And I'll make a decision about '24 down the road," said Cheney.
Cheney added that she was thinking less about a decision to run for office and more in terms of as an American. She said that she was wondering how she could make sure that she is doing everything she could to do the right thing to protect the Constitution.
The Wyoming Republican's remarks are also the opposite of the perspective of the committee's chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson. Last month, he said that the committee "does not have authority" to refer criminal charges for Trump.
At the same time, Cheney and other members of the panel appear to diverge from that conclusion and leave room for the possibility of criminally referring the former president to the Justice Department, CBS News reported.
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