Former Representative Liz Cheney, representing Wyoming as a Republican, recently shared her thoughts on social media following the U.S. Supreme Court’s hearing of former President Donald Trump’s case regarding presidential immunity. Trump’s legal team argued for immunity from legal prosecution for actions taken during his presidency, amidst allegations related to his efforts to challenge the 2020 election outcome.
During the oral arguments for Trump v. United States, the Supreme Court justices expressed varying degrees of skepticism regarding absolute immunity for presidents concerning private acts while in office. However, there seemed to be a consensus among most justices regarding the necessity of some level of immunity for official presidential actions.
Analysts speculate that the Supreme Court might remand the case to a lower court to differentiate between charges related to official and private acts, potentially delaying Trump’s federal trial, and possibly extending beyond the upcoming election.
Cheney, who emerged as a vocal critic of Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, took to social media, urging the Supreme Court to deliver a swift and decisive ruling. She argued that Trump’s alleged involvement in pressuring officials, lobbying state legislatures, and overseeing electoral challenges constituted private acts, not official presidential duties.
Trump’s involvement in a lawsuit seeking to overturn election results in key states was cited by Cheney, emphasizing that Trump filed the lawsuit in his personal capacity as a candidate, a distinction the Supreme Court previously declined to address. Additionally, Cheney referenced Trump’s urging of then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject certifying election results, which Pence ultimately declined, citing constitutional concerns.
Despite Cheney’s past alignment with Trump’s policies in Congress, her vocal opposition to his actions post-election led to her removal as House Republican Conference chair in 2021. Subsequently, she participated in the House select committee investigating the January 6 riot, and although she lost her 2022 primary, Cheney continues to be an influential conservative voice cautioning against what she perceives as the dangers posed by Trump and his supporters within the GOP.