Two of former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment attorneys, Bruce Castor and David Schoen, informed The Federalist Friday morning the GOP ought to make a prudent decision in who is chosen to assume the House Republican Chair position. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., has been vocal in her disdain for Trump and voted to convict him during impeachment proceedings following the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.
Bruce Castor, appointed by Trump on January 31 to lead his impeachment defense, said Cheney made a poor decision to convict and that GOP leaders ought to be “like-minded” to Trump since he is the “leader” of the current GOP. Castor served as a Pennsylvania district attorney and lost in a race for attorney general in 2004 to Tom Corbett, the eventual Republican governor.
“While I respect Rep. Cheney and believe her a patriot, I think that she should not have, as a matter of law, voted to advance articles of impeachment against President Trump,” Castor said. “I do not presume to have sufficient knowledge among GOP House members to opine who should hold the position of conference chair. The members will make the best, most informed decision on that question. I firmly believe that President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party.”
David Schoen, a Montgomery, Alabama defense attorney who also represented the former president, was more guarded. He said the Biden administration is enacting “radical policy changes” and that it is not time for “infighting.”
“I certainly hope they resolve the issue quickly and in a professional manner,” Schoen said. “Things are moving so rapidly in terms of major radical policy changes with the current administration on the economic and foreign policy fronts and with respect to the restriction of individual and constitutional [rights] — perhaps most especially the right to the full and robust expression of all viewpoints. There is no more time for the appearance of chaos and infighting.”
Cheney wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post on Wednesday in which she claimed “The Republican Party is at a turning point” and reiterated Trump was responsible for the breach. Evidence presented at the trial proved otherwise, given the riot began prior to Trump speaking near the White House.
“Trump has never expressed remorse or regret for the attack of Jan. 6 and now suggests that our elections, and our legal and constitutional system, cannot be trusted to do the will of the people,” Cheney wrote. “This is immensely harmful, especially as we now compete on the world stage against Communist China and its claims that democracy is a failed system.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., has emerged as a preferable and more Trump-aligned congresswoman to be chair among some GOP members. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., pledged to back her Wednesday. Trump endorsed Stefanik the same day.
“We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritize the values of America first. Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!” Trump said in a statement.
Reps. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., and Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., among others, are also considered by congressional aides to be in the running for the third-ranking GOP member spot.
via thefederalist