Commission investigating January 6 quotes Giuliani 2:13
Salt Lake City (CNN) --
Members of the Republican National Committee voted Friday to formally censure Republican Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois for their role in the House investigation into the Sept. 6 assault on Capitol Hill. January 2021.
This unprecedented move marks the first time the national party has rebuked a sitting Republican congressman, let alone two, with a formal censure backed by its members.
Prior to its passage, CNR members pushed for the resolution to be less aggressive and to remove language calling for the expulsion of Cheney and Kinzinger from the House GOP Conference, a strictly symbolic move given that the party it does not have the authority to decide who does or does not serve in Congress.
Cheney: January 6 Commission Has "First-Hand Testimony"
that Ivanka asked Trump to intervene during the insurrection on Capitol Hill
Cheney and Kinzinger have played an active role in the House select committee's investigation into former President Donald Trump's activities before and during the riots on Capitol Hill last January.
Their status as the only Republicans on the panel has drawn scorn from other GOP lawmakers and from party officials who believe they are enabling an unfair investigation run by congressional Democrats.
Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger listen during a December meeting of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on Capitol Hill.
"This is not about dissent. This is about them helping [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi," said David Bossie, a Trump ally and a member of the Maryland national committee who drafted the original resolution seeking to oust Trump. Cheney and Kinzinger from the Republican caucus.
In a statement before the resolution's passage, Cheney said the punitive measure marked "a sad day for Lincoln's party."
"If the price of being willing to tell the truth and get to the bottom of what happened on January 6 and make sure those responsible are held accountable is censorship, then I am absolutely going to continue to stand up for what I knew to be right," he said. .
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OPINION |
Liz Cheney is asking just the right question about Bannon, Trump and January 6
Several Republicans, including Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, a 2012 presidential candidate, have criticized the no-confidence motion by Cheney and Kinzinger, who were among 10 House GOP lawmakers who voted in favor of the trial. politician to Trump last year for his role in inciting riots on Capitol Hill.
"Shame falls on a party that would censor people of conscience, who seek the truth despite criticism. The honor goes to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking the truth even when doing so comes at great personal cost," Romney said in a tweet a few hours before the vote on Friday.
Republican National Committee Liz Cheney