Former Representative Liz Cheney is calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson to take immediate action by reconvening the House and introducing a crucial bill that would provide much-needed assistance to Ukraine. Cheney emphasizes the urgency of the situation and is willing to risk Johnson’s speakership in order to address this pressing issue.
“He needs to recognize the significance of sacrificing his speakership to ensure the preservation of freedom and the continued leadership of the United States of America,” stated the Wyoming Republican in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Last week, the Senate made significant progress by approving a $95 billion aid package. This package included approximately $60 billion in aid specifically designated for Ukraine. The purpose of this aid is to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend itself against Russia’s invasion. It is worth noting that Republicans, who were once united in their support for this cause, broadly backed this aid package.
But Johnson, who holds a slim majority in the House, has criticized the bill under pressure from former President Donald Trump. He resisted bringing it up for consideration before adjourning the House for a two-week recess. “The purpose of the national security supplemental legislation was to prioritize securing America’s own border before allocating additional foreign aid globally,” he explained.
Cheney, who was removed from her post in the GOP House leadership for staunchly criticizing Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection, advised Johnson not to succumb to external pressure.
Liz Cheney emphasized the importance of accountability when she stated that in the future, Joe Biden will have to justify his actions to his children and grandchildren. She posed the question of whether Biden acted in the best interest of the people and fought for freedom, or if he succumbed to the pressures of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Cheney connected their rhetoric to the tragic fate of Alexei Navalny, a prominent opponent of Putin.
In discussing Donald Trump’s approach to retribution, she emphasized, “What Vladimir Putin did to Navalny serves as a prime example of retribution in a country where the leader is not bound by the rule of law. It is crucial that we take Donald Trump’s actions seriously.”