'Afraid of the truth': Liz Cheney hits back at Donald Trump after he attacks Capitol riot investigation

WASHINGTON – During a weekend of aggressive rhetoric, former President Donald Trump attacked former Rep. Liz Cheney, but the one-time Wyoming lawmaker, now one of his most vocal critics, hit back and accused him of being "afraid of the truth."

Trump, who has called for prosecuting a number of political opponents should he return to the White House, targeted Cheney over dubious claims that the House committee that investigated the Capitol riot sat on evidence related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

"She should go to Jail along with the rest of the Unselect Committee!" Trump said Sunday in a Truth Social post.

Cheney, defeated for re-election in 2022 by a Trump surrogate, responded by saying the former president is lying (again).

In posts on X, formerly Twitter, Cheney said Trump and his attorneys have long had all the evidence compiled by the former committee, and they are only trying to delay criminal trials related to the insurrection attempt. While Trump has not been charged with inciting the Capitol riot, he does face sweeping federal charges accusing him of trying to steal the 2020 election from President Joe Biden.

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"Hi Donald: you know these are lies," Cheney said. "You have had all the grand jury & J6 transcripts for many months. You’re trying to halt your 1/6 trial because your VP, WH counsel, WH aides, campaign & DOJ officials etc will testify against you. You’re afraid of the truth and you should be."

After the violence of Jan. 6, 2021, Cheney became one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on allegations he sparked the violence of that day.

Republicans later retaliated against Cheney by dismissing her from a party leadership post. Trump, meanwhile, promoted Wyoming Republican primary opponent Harriet Hageman, who defeated Cheney in 2022.

During his weekend back-and-forth with Cheney, Trump said in one Truth Social post that "SHE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE TO OUR COUNTRY!"

Over on X, Cheney replied: 'Lying in all caps doesn’t make it true, Donald. You know you and your lawyers have long had the evidence."

Trump's criticism of Cheney wasn't the only attack he launched over the weekend.

Democrats hit Trump for saying during a rally in Ohio that there would be a "bloodbath" if he loses the 2024 election. Trump was referring to the American car industry, which he said would suffer from Chinese imports unless he is elected and hits the Chinese with tariffs.

Trump also referred to people serving prison sentences in connection to the Jan. 6 riot as "hostages," and he suggested he would pardon them if he regains the White House. It's another topic that has drawn attacks from Democrats and Trump's conservative critics, who say he is excusing lawbreaking and insurrection.

Former Vice President Mike Pence - who was threatened during the Capitol riot for refusing to try to overturn the election, condemned Trump's use of the word "hostages.". The former vice president may also testify against Trump in a trial.

“I think it's unfortunate - at a time that there are American hostages being held in Gaza - that the president or any other leaders would refer to people that are moving through our justice system as hostages," Pence said on CBS' "Face The Nation." "And it's just unacceptable.”

Pence last week also said he would not endorse his former president for reelection.