Former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney, now a critic of Donald Trump, mocked him on social media as he returned to the White House.
“Trump’s speech today reminded us that lies and the people who tell them don’t improve with time. Evidence from the Select Committee is available online, and as a criminal defendant, Trump has access to all the transcripts,” Cheney posted on X.
In 2022, a report was released claiming Trump was part of a plan to overturn the results of the 2020 election and failed to stop his supporters from storming the Capitol. The 814-page report came after an 18-month investigation, over 1,000 witness interviews, 10 hearings, and more than a million documents. Witnesses, including Trump’s aides and some rioters, described his actions leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. They said Trump’s efforts to challenge his loss encouraged the rioters who attacked the Capitol and police.
After returning to the presidency, Trump criticized Cheney, calling her a “crying lunatic.” During his speech, Trump also targeted Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the committee that investigated the Capitol riot. He criticized Joe Biden for issuing preemptive pardons to them.
One of Trump’s first actions as president was pardoning or dropping charges for over 1,500 people involved in the Capitol riot, including those who attacked police officers. His move clears the way for releasing far-right group leaders and others found guilty of violent acts during the riot.
Trump’s pardons are part of his effort to rewrite the history of Jan. 6, when more than 100 police officers were injured, and lawmakers were forced to hide as a violent mob stormed the Capitol. While some expected the pardons, the speed and scale shocked many, undermining the Justice Department’s work to hold rioters accountable for what many consider one of the darkest days in U.S. history.
