Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. and Harriet Hageman, one of her Republican challengers, went on the attack against each other in a debate on Thursday.
Their comments came in Cheyenne during a debate featuring the incumbent Cheney and her four primary opponents, the Washington Examiner reported.
Cheney came under fire for her criticism of former President Donald Trump and her work on the select committee probing the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
She challenged Hageman, who is endorsed by Trump, to say the 2020 election was not stolen, according to the news outlet.
"I'd be interested to know whether or not my opponent, Ms. Hageman, is willing to say here tonight that the election was not stolen," Cheney said. "She knows it wasn't stolen. I think that she can't say that it wasn't stolen because she's completely beholden to Donald Trump.
"And if she says it wasn't stolen, he will not support her. So, we've got to be honest, we have to be truthful — elected officials in particular, public servants, owe that to those people we represent."
Hageman defended Trump and said there were questions about the election's integrity.
"We're not a democracy, we're a republic," Hageman said. "Our republic is not in danger because of President Donald J. Trump. … The biggest threat to our republic is the current administration and the corruption of our institutions.
"The press and certain people have obsessed over January 6th. Over 30,000 miles of campaign travel through Wyoming, the only time that the J6 situation ever comes up is when people talk about how unfair this entire committee is. … They're focusing on something that happened 18 months ago, they're not focusing on the issues that are important to the people in Wyoming."
The Examiner noted Trump has made Cheney his top target.
When he endorsed Hageman in September, he slammed Cheney, saying: "Unlike RINO Liz Cheney, Harriet is all in for America First. Harriet has my complete and total endorsement in replacing the Democrats' number one provider of sound bites, Liz Cheney."
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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