Former Representative Liz Cheney has sharply rebuked President-elect Trump's suggestion that she and other members of the January 6th Committee should face jail time. Cheney characterized Trump's remarks as a continuation of his attacks on the rule of law, stemming from his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.

In a statement responding to Trump's comments on NBC's "Meet the Press," Cheney reiterated her stance that Trump incited the mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6th. She highlighted Trump's refusal to intervene for hours while the violence unfolded. Trump, in the interview, accused Cheney, Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, and other members of deleting and destroying evidence, calling them "political thugs" and "creeps."

Cheney emphasized the gravity of the January 6th attack, labeling it the worst breach of the Constitution by a president in American history. She defended the committee's work, which culminated in criminal referrals to the Justice Department against Trump. The committee, composed of seven Democrats and two Republicans (Cheney and Adam Kinzinger), concluded its investigation in 2023 after Republicans regained control of the House.

A House Republican report earlier this year alleged that the January 6th Committee had deleted records and employed "Hollywood producers" to shape a political narrative. Cheney dismissed the report as a cover-up for Trump's actions. She also addressed Trump's accusations of destroyed evidence, calling them "ridiculous and false" and referencing a letter from Thompson to Representative Barry Loudermilk refuting these claims. The letter explained the committee's procedures for archiving sensitive material to protect witnesses, national security, and law enforcement operations.

Cheney further argued against the legitimacy of a Justice Department investigation into the committee's work, asserting that such an action would be constitutionally unsound. She advocated for the preservation and public release of materials from Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump and the 2020 election. In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Cheney campaigned alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, urging voters to reject Trump. Speculation is rife about potential preemptive pardons from President Biden for individuals perceived as Trump's political adversaries, including Cheney. Cheney has not commented on whether she would accept a pardon.