Liz Cheney defends Jan. 6 committee's actions as "fidelity" to the Constitution

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) defended the actions of the Jan. 6 select committee in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, writing that the committee's investigation is "about fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law."

Why it matters: The Republican National Committee censured Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) last week over their participation on the select committee.

What she's saying: "The Jan. 6 investigation isn’t only about the inexcusable violence of that day," Cheney wrote.

• "It is also about fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law, and whether elected representatives believe in those things or not."
• "Those who do not wish the truth of Jan. 6 to come out have predictably resorted to attacking the process — claiming it is tainted and political. Our hearings will show this charge to be wrong."

The big picture: Earlier this week, about 140 Republican leaders and former officials signed a statement condemning the decision to censure Cheney and Kinzinger.

• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) even weighed in Tuesday to say it was "not the job" of the RNC to single out members who disagree with the party.
• RNC chair Ronna McDaniel on Tuesday defended the RNC's decision, saying that Cheney and Kinzinger had "permitted their party affiliation to be weaponized."