Liz Cheney speech live updates – House Republicans oust Wyoming Rep as conference chair after her criticism of Trump

HOUSE Republicans voted to remove Republican Liz Cheney from her leadership position in the party on Wednesday, May 12.

Cheney has often been vocal against former President Donald Trump and politicians from her own party.

Cheney, 54, lost her post as House Republican Conference chair due to ongoing comments against Trump.

The Republican is also facing backlash from colleagues as she has criticized them for promoting “the big lie” of baseless election fraud back in 2020.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif, announced that the House would have a vote to strip Cheney of her position.

McCarthy penned a letter about a vote to remove Cheney from her position saying that the “driving focus would be taking back the House in 2022″ and that “internal conflicts need to be resolved so as to not detract from the efforts of our collective team.”

He continued: “Having heard from so many of you in recent days, it’s clear that we need to make a change. As such, you should anticipate a vote on recalling the Conference Chair this Wednesday.”

During an hours-long voting session back in February, fellow Republicans voted 145-61 (with one abstention) by secret ballot to keep Cheney as chair, but she was removed in the official vote on Wednesday.

McCarthy was also caught criticizing Cheney on a hot mic off-air before a live Fox and Friends interview saying, “I think she’s got real problems.”

McCarthy publicly endorsed Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York, who is assumed to be the candidate to take over Cheney’s post.

Trump and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise have also backed Stefanik.

On Tuesday, Cheney gave a speech on the House floor firing back at Trump and blasted fellow Republicans for backing the former president even after the attack on the US Capitol earlier this year.

Read our Liz Cheney live blog for the latest on the vote…