Liz Cheney Disputes NYT Report Claiming Jan. 6 Panel Is Split On Trump Criminal Referral

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has disputed a report that disclosed a dispute among members of the House Jan. 6 select committee on whether to make a criminal referral to the Department of Justice for former President Donald Trump and his actions during the Capitol Riot.

The New York Times (Lean Left bias) published an article Sunday morning that claimed the House committee has gathered enough evidence against Trump but is "concerned" that making a referral to the Justice Department "would backfire by politically tainting" the ongoing investigation. Hours later, Cheney told CNN's Jake Tapper that "there's not really a dispute on the committee." Cheney noted that the panel hasn't yet made a final decision, but said it's "absolutely clear" that Trump and a number of his people knowingly participated in an "unlawful" attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The committee's final report will notably have no legal implications for the Justice Department's finding, but will largely serve as a symbolic judgment.

Coverage from across the spectrum mostly focused on Cheney's comments rather than leaning into speculation. Left-rated outlets like Mother Jones (Left bias) were more likely to highlight how the Justice Department's investigation has "expanded" and that the Jan. 6 committee might omit "strong evidence." Some right-rated outlets such as The Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) placed an emphasis on how Cheney is "convinced" that Trump "engaged in unlawful conduct... even as she conceded" that the Jan. 6 committee has not come to a conclusion.