The Republican National Committee voted to censure U.S. Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for serving on the House committee investigating the insurrection at the Capitol last year, saying the panel is “persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”
By a voice vote without discussion, the RNC approved a resolution censuring the lawmakers at its winter meeting in Utah on Friday. The resolution said their participation on the panel hurts the party and its efforts to win back congressional majorities in 2022.
The censure shows the grip former President Donald Trump still holds on the base of the GOP, but it drew pushback from some Republicans. Critics said it is wrong for the party to punish two of its members for helping to investigate the Jan. 6 riot — and counterproductive to focus on Republicans instead of President Joe Biden and Democrats ahead of midterm elections in November that will determine party control of Congress.
