Kevin McCarthy tried to get Liz Cheney to apologize for the way she handled her vote to oust former President Trump ahead of last week’s long-awaited GOP conference meeting, a request she rejected, they told Axios two people with direct knowledge.
Why it’s important: Cheney rolled the dice, rejecting her leader’s question and counting on her supporters to keep her as president of the conference, the party’s No. 3 spot in the House. Recently empowered, she is now taking on her role as Trump’s chief critic of the Republicans.
What we are hearing: McCarthy, who was hesitant at first about holding a vote to oust Cheney, told her in private hours before Wednesday’s caucus meeting that her members wanted to hear her say she felt sorry.
- He also suggested that he could influence some of his opponents.
- Cheney’s team, however, did a whip count and was confident it would get at least 142 votes, sources said.
- A McCarthy representative declined to comment.
Inside the room: “Several members have apologized to me for voting, they have asked my colleagues who also voted to accuse me of apologizing for the vote, ”Cheney (R-Wyo.) Told his colleagues.
- “I can’t do that. It was a vote of conscience. It was a vote of principle, a principle I’m on and still believe in.”
- 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 vote. He ended up winning 145-61.
What to see: Cheney is now looking to take advantage of his higher profile.
- On Monday, it will hold a virtual fundraising event, according to a copy of an invitation obtained by Axios.
- Prominent guests include former House Speaker John Boehner; Sara Bonjean, GOP fundraiser and wife of former Congress aide Ron Bonjean; former Florida MP Ilheana Ros-Lehtinen; and George W. Bush’s former officer, Maria Cino.
It also doubled about his condemnation of the former president during a Fox News interview Sunday, telling Chris Wallace that Trump “has no role as leader of our party in the future.”
- “People have been lying,” Cheney said. “President Trump, for months prior to Jan. 6, spread the idea that the election had been stolen … and people need to understand that.”
But, but, but: Criticism has not completely faded for Cheney.
- The Republican Party of Wyoming voted Saturday to censor it for Trump’s ouster vote.
- He also retains numerous criticisms of the Freedom Caucus and national Republican circles.
Editor’s Note: The headline and title of this story have been updated to reflect that Kevin McCarthy asked Liz Cheney to apologize for how she handled the dismissal vote.