Amidst rising political tensions, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) has urged the Department of Justice to investigate former Rep. Liz Cheney for alleged witness tampering. This comes in relation to her role in the January 6 Committee.
The Washington Examiner reported that Cheney is facing allegations of witness tampering linked to her actions with the January 6 Committee, specifically involving communications with ex-aide Cassidy Hutchinson.
Cheney, once a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, herself stands accused of conduct she previously condemned.
Loudermilk has drawn parallels between Cheney's actions and the accusations she levied against Trump. According to him, Cheney's involvement potentially mirrored the very misconduct she sought to reveal.
The controversy centers around Cheney's interaction with Cassidy Hutchinson, who was a key aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Hutchinson had provided extensive testimony to the January 6 Committee regarding her White House experiences, reflecting crucial insights into the administration's operations during significant events.
According to allegations made by the Administration Oversight Subcommittee, of which Loudermilk is a member, Cheney’s communications influenced Hutchinson to reconsider her legal counsel and the nature of her testimony. Hutchinson reportedly dismissed her lawyer, Stefan Passantino, opting to replace him at Cheney's behest.
Loudermilk has cited these actions to claim that Cheney engaged in witness tampering, as she supposedly guided Hutchinson in an attempt to reshape the aide’s testimony. This change occurred after Hutchinson had already provided over 24 hours of details to the committee, suggesting potential interference after significant disclosures had already been made.
The subcommittee's report flags a possible violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512, indicating that despite the constitutional protections generally covering legislative actions, Cheney's specific interventions might not be shielded by the speech and debate clause. This could expose her to serious legal repercussions, considering witness tampering can carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison if proven in court.
Loudermilk has utilized public platforms to articulate his concerns. Appearing on "Life, Liberty, and Levin," he drew a direct line comparing Cheney’s actions with those she had publicly criticized.
He highlighted a previous incident where Cheney called for an investigation into Trump over an alleged attempt at witness tampering, which merely involved an attempted phone call to a committee witness.
Loudermilk emphasized, “Now, compare that to what we have the evidence Liz Cheney did. She did communicate with Cassidy Hutchinson. She did acknowledge it was an inappropriate communication. After she communicated with Cassidy Hutchinson, then Cassidy Hutchinson changed her testimony.”
This assertion opens up a complex legal debate surrounding the actions of political figures and their interactions with witnesses in investigatory processes.
Loudermilk contends that while he cannot conclusively determine Cheney's culpability, the prerogative lies within the capacity of the Department of Justice to undertake a thorough investigation.
The call for DOJ involvement suggests an escalation in the scrutiny applied to Cheney, who has been a controversial figure within her party due to her outspoken criticism of Trump and her involvement in the January 6 Committee. Losing her seat in the House did not diminish the potency of the debates surrounding her actions.
Facing potentially severe consequences, if investigations confirm the allegations, Cheney’s situation is symptomatic of the broader political repercussions stemming from the January 6 investigations. It underscores the gravity and contentiousness of the matters being dissected, which continue to ripple through American politics.