'I’ve Been Surprised By Many Things': Cheney Reacts To Jan. 6 Investigation Ahead Of Anniversary

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., spoke about the Jan. 6 subcommittee's findings and the insurrection that occurred that day on ABC's “This Week” on Sunday.

With the first anniversary of that event just days away, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney and one of the few people in her party who has taken a keen interest in finding out how the insurrection happened talked about what the investigation shows occurred, and who it involves.

“I’ve certainly been surprised by many things,” Cheney said. “We are learning much more about what former President Trump was doing while the violent assault was underway.”

Cheney spoke about what the committee has learned of former President Donald Trump’s involvement, or lack thereof, that swayed what happened on Jan. 6, 2021.

“There’s absolutely no question that it was a dereliction of duty," Cheney said. “And I think one of the things the committee needs to look at is ... whether we need enhanced penalties for that kind of dereliction of duty.”

According to the Republican congresswoman, while there are no criminal charges being considered against Trump, she did go on to call him “dangerous.” Multiple members of his family, Fox News anchors and Senate Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., urged him to put an end to the insurrection by making a statement as it was going on, and his failure to do so within a certain amount of time is what concerns Cheney.

Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump’s daughter, went in at least twice to ask her father to “please stop the violence.”

Cheney went as far as to say that Trump is unfit for future office as he is expected to run for president again in 2024. She shares fears Hillary Clinton voiced weeks ago, that if Trump wins re-election that it could be the end of U.S. democracy. However, most of the Republican Party still supports Trump.

“The Republican Party has to make a choice. We can either be loyal to our Constitution or loyal to Donald Trump, but we cannot be both,” Cheney said.

While she disagrees with the direction of the Biden administration and believes the country needs conservative leadership, the guidance Trump offers is not what the Republican Party should follow. However, the committee gives her hope that Republicans will listen to reason, she said.