Reps. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) may be ready to leave the Republican Party, according to New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin, who made that prediction during an appearance on CNN Friday morning.
Martin was on CNN’s “New Day” to discuss a report he wrote about a decision by Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) to retire from Congress and not seek reelection in 2022 due to death threats he and his family have received from supporters of former President Donald Trump. Gonazalez called Trump a “cancer for the country.”
It appears that Cheney could be the next Republicans to bolt the GOP, Martin told hosts John Berman and Brianna Keilar. Martin was asked by Keilar:
“What does that tell you that you could have members of Congress sitting next to someone who celebrated the insurrectionists. What does that tell you about the makeup of Congress coming up?”
According to Mediaite, Martin responded:
“Who is next? The top two on the roster that everybody is now watching are the two who were on the otherwise Democratic-dominated January 6th commission, Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney. Those are the other two,”
Cheney and Kinzinger have also been subjected to withering attacks from their GOP colleagues in the House, which is exactly what Gonzalez cited when he told Martin why he felt the time had come for him to part ways with Republicans in the Age of Trump:
Mr. Gonzalez said that quality-of-life issues had been paramount in his decision. He recounted an “eye-opening” moment this year: when he and his family were greeted at the Cleveland airport by two uniformed police officers, part of extra security precautions taken after the impeachment vote.
“That’s one of those moments where you say, ‘Is this really what I want for my family when they travel, to have my wife and kids escorted through the airport?’” he said.
On Saturday, a rally will be held by those allied with Trump to protest the treatment of Trump supporters who have been arrested and charged with various federal crimes for their part in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
If indeed Cheney and Kinzinger dump the GOP, it could signal a larger backlash against those who continue to pledge their loyalty to Trump and further splinter the party.
Featured Image Via NBC News
