News · Press Release

ICYMI: Rep. John Katko Hides Behind Secret Vote to Cancel Colleague for Having Honesty and Integrity

Earlier today, House Republicans retaliated against Rep. Liz Cheney for being one of the few in her party with the courage to speak out about GOP lies regarding the 2020 election and the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

GOP Rep. John Katko, one of Cheney’s defenders in January, seems to have decided that his capacity for honesty and integrity has a limit. And that limit means submitting to the Trump loyalists in the party and staying quiet about the cancelation of his colleague for telling the truth.

Post-Standard: House GOP votes to oust Liz Cheney from leadership, opening door for Elise Stefanik 
By Mark Weiner

House Republicans voted today to oust Rep. Liz Cheney from a leadership role, opening the door for Upstate New York Rep. Elise Stefanik to succeed her as the GOP’s conference chair.

The vote was taken behind closed doors.

[…]

Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, did not respond to requests for comment about the leadership vote. He stood by Cheney in February when she survived a previous GOP conference vote to oust her from leadership.

Katko and Cheney were among 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in January for inciting a violent mob to storm the U.S. Capitol.

Katko said last week that he would support Stefanik for the post if Cheney is removed.

Minutes before the vote, Trump issued the latest in a series of statements encouraging the GOP to part ways with Cheney.

“The Republicans in the House of Representatives have a great opportunity today to rid themselves of a poor leader, a major Democrat talking point, a warmonger, and a person with absolutely no personality or heart,” Trump said.

He added, “Almost everyone in the Republican Party, including 90% of Wyoming, looks forward to her ouster—and that includes me!”

Auburn Citizen: House GOP ousts Liz Cheney from No. 3 leadership post; Katko’s vote unknown 
By Robert Harding

Nearly four months to the day after U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump for inciting the attack on the U.S. Capitol, House GOP members ousted her as conference chair.

House Republicans voted at a meeting Wednesday to remove Cheney from the number three leadership position. A voice vote was held, so there’s no roll call tally of whom supported or opposed recalling Cheney.  

[…]

It’s unknown how U.S. Rep. John Katko voted in the closed-door meeting. A spokesperson for the central New York congressman said there was “nothing new” from Katko and referred The Citizen to comments he made last week.  

Katko, who took questions after a virtual infrastructure roundtable on Friday, told reporters that Cheney is a good friend and he supported her when House Republicans last considered whether she should remain as conference chair. He did not say how he would vote ahead of the GOP conference meeting this week.  

With Stefanik as the leading contender to replace Cheney, Katko said he “will absolutely support” his fellow upstate New York Republican for conference chair. Katko and Stefanik are friends and were elected to Congress in 2014.

[…]

Katko’s call for the GOP to have a “big tent” is being put to the test. Like Cheney, he voted to impeach Trump and has faced a backlash from some Republicans and Conservative Party leaders.

When Katko explained his impeachment vote, he said he wouldn’t support Trump if he ran for president in 2024 and thought that the former president should no longer be the standard-bearer of the party. But many Republicans disagree and still view Trump as the leader of the GOP.

[…]

After the House Republican conference meeting, Cheney said she told her GOP colleagues that “we must go forward based on truth.” 

“We cannot both embrace the big lie and embrace the Constitution,” she said. “And going forward, the nation needs it. The nation needs a strong Republican Party. The nation needs a party that is based upon the fundamental principles of conservatism. I am committed and dedicated to ensuring that that’s how this party goes forward. And I plan to lead the fight to do that.”

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