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House Republicans oust Cheney from leadership as she vows to stop Trump

"We cannot both embrace the big lie and embrace the Constitution," she said.

ByLibby Cathey, Benjamin Siegel, and Mariam Khan
Last Updated: May 12, 2021, 6:15 PM EDT

House Republicans voted Wednesday to remove Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney from her House GOP leadership position following her criticism of former President Donald Trump and his continued attacks on the 2020 election.

Cheney, who has branded herself as an "unapologetic conservative," speaking on the House floor Tuesday night, delivered a searing indictment of House GOP leaders seeking to expel her from their ranks after she voted to impeach Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Here is how the vote and reaction unfolded:

May 12, 2021, 9:59 AM EDT

Cheney ousted via voice vote, not secret ballot as expected

House Republicans removed Cheney from the No. 3 leadership post via a voice vote.

While a secret ballot was expected, and was the method used in February when Cheney faced another challenge to her post and prevailed 145-61, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy rejected calls for one.

PHOTO: Rep. Adam Kinzinger talks to reporters in the in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center following a House Republican conference meeting on May 12, 2021, in Washington, to remove Conference Chair Liz Cheney from her leadership position.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger talks to reporters in the in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center following a House Republican conference meeting on May 12, 2021, in Washington, to remove Conference Chair Liz Cheney from her leadership position.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who is in the party's minority for publicly supporting Cheney, said following the meeting that McCarthy said he opted for a voice vote instead to "show unity."

A voice vote is taken by evaluating the relative strength and volume of "aye" and "no" calls. Since the vote was conducted behind closed doors in a conference-wide meeting, it's unlikely many Republicans will let their positions be known in public, but it makes it harder to assess how much support Cheney had.

May 12, 2021, 9:45 AM EDT

Stefanik sends note to colleagues announcing her bid for No. 3 spot

Following the vote to oust Cheney, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik formally announced her bid for House Republican Conference Chair with a letter to her GOP colleagues asking for their vote.

She blamed the news media for dividing the Republican Party and vowed to regain the majority and "fire Speaker Pelosi once and for all."

Rep. Elise Stefanik arrives for the House Republican Conference meeting where she is expected to be voted in to replace Rep. Liz Cheney as chair of the House Republicans Conference in the Capitol on May 12, 2021.
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

The note comes amid growing concern among the conservative wing of the Republican Party that Stefanik, with a more moderate voting record than Cheney, is not conservative enough for the job.

May 12, 2021, 9:37 AM EDT

After ouster, Cheney vows to keep Trump from Oval Office

Following the vote, Cheney told reporters that she did not feel betrayed by the vote and that she will keep on fighting to prevent former President Donald Trump from ever making his way back into the Oval Office. 

"We cannot embrace both the big lie and the Constitution," she said.

Republican Rep. Liz Cheney speaks to the media at the US Capitol in Washington on May 12, 2021.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Rep. Adam Kinzinger spoke immediately after Cheney and said there was little speaking among members during the vote to remove Cheney.

He said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said this morning that the vote was about "unity."

Other Republicans leaving the meeting said the conference vote to replace Cheney will likely take place Friday.

May 12, 2021, 9:30 AM EDT

Cheney ousted from leadership position

A majority of House Republicans, in a voice vote, removed Cheney from her leadership position at a closed door meeting.

Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York is the front-runner to replace her, having the support of the former president and House GOP leadership.

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