The House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight has suggested that Liz Cheney should be investigated for witness tampering. This recommendation comes after President Biden awarded Cheney, a former Congresswoman from Wyoming, the Presidential Citizens Medal for her involvement in the disbanded Jan. 6 Select Committee, which some view as undermining democracy. Biden has expressed regret that the Justice Department did not act more forcefully against political opponents, which adds to the controversy surrounding Cheney's recognition.
Cheney received this honor along with Rep. Bennie Thompson, who led the House investigation into the Capitol riot. Critics argue that Thompson previously exhibited questionable behavior by refusing to certify George W. Bush's 2004 election victory in Ohio. There is also a comparison to the different treatment of Democrats and Republicans regarding election objections, as the Jan. 6 Committee made criminal referrals against Trump and jailed some of his advisers for not complying with subpoenas.
House Republicans conducted their own investigation into the Capitol incident and accused Cheney of witness tampering. Cheney allegedly worked with former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson using encrypted messages to help Hutchinson change her testimony against Trump, suggesting a strategy to enhance the impact of the hearings. Hutchinson's original statements were not very significant, but her testimony became much more dramatic after her interaction with Cheney. However, some details from Hutchinson’s testimony were later disputed.
The investigation report stated that Hutchinson's story changed notably after Cheney advised her to switch attorneys. Before this change, Hutchinson did not mention significant events during earlier interviews. Furthermore, Cheney's committee was trying to undermine Hutchinson's previous lawyer, suggesting that he was advising her to be untruthful, though that lawyer, Stefan Passantino, was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing. He has filed lawsuits against those he believes wronged him, including Cheney.
The report pointed out the irony of Cheney potentially facing charges for witness tampering after she had previously condemned attempts to influence witness testimonies. After Hutchinson's testimony, Cheney threatened anyone attempting to manipulate witnesses, further highlighting the contradictions in her actions.
The report suggests that Cheney’s comments may indicate a lack of self-awareness or an effort to distract from her own behavior. It asserts that the committee, while accusing Trump and associates of wrongdoing, was engaging in similar tactics they criticized.
Tristan Justice, a correspondent for The Federalist, covered these developments and provided context for the ongoing political drama surrounding the consequences of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and the responses from various political figures.
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