Trump warns top Republican critic could be 'in a lot of trouble'

DonaldTrump warned Wednesday that an ex-congresswomanwho probed his role in the 2021 Capitol riot "couldbe in alotoftrouble," afterRepublicanlawmakers called for her to be criminally investigated.

TheRepublicanpresident-elect, who is due to return to the White House on January 20, has vowed to get revenge on political adversaries he baselessly accuses of weaponizing the US justice system against him.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Trumpposted the taunt against former Wyoming representative Liz Cheney on hisTruth Socialplatform after a congressional panel on Tuesday accused her of witness tampering when she helped lead the probe into the January 6, 2021 riot.

"Liz Cheneycouldbe in alotoftroublebased on the evidence obtained by the subcommittee, which states that 'numerous federal laws were likely broken by Liz Cheney, and these violations should be investigated by the FBI',"Trumpsaid in the post.

TheRepublican-led panel, in its 128-page report, accuses Cheney of colluding with Cassidy Hutchinson, atopstaffer inTrump's 2017-21 White House.

Hutchinson was the star witness of the select committee that investigatedTrump, and on which Cheney served as vice chair.

Watch |Donald Trump Sues Des Moines Register and Selzer, Alleging ‘Election Interference’

It was set up after a mob, whipped up byTrump's false claims of a stolen election and directed to march on Congress by the defeated president, ransacked the US Capitol.

The committee, since disbanded, concluded thatTrump"oversaw and coordinated a sophisticated seven-part plan to overturn the presidential election and prevent the transfer of presidential power."

Cheney has dismissed the accusations against her as "a malicious and cowardly assault on the truth" that no "reputable lawyer, legislator, or judge" would take seriously.

She said her panel had heard from "scores ofRepublicanwitnesses, including many of the most senior officials fromTrump's own White House, campaign, and administration," and had produced "a highly detailed and meticulously sourced800-page report."

Trumphas a long history of attacking Cheney, the daughter of former US vice president Dick Cheney, and as recently as October called her a "Muslim-hating warmonger... who wants to invade practically every Muslim country on the planet."

She was once seen as a rising star among the Republicans in the House of Representatives, but was booted from her leadership position and then lost her Wyoming seat over her criticism ofTrump's refusal to concede defeat in the 2020 election.

She announcedahead of November's presidential election that she would be voting forTrump's opponent, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trumpwas indicted by both the federal Justice Department and the state of Georgia over his alleged leadership of a multi-pronged criminal conspiracy to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

Prosecutions of sitting US presidents are barred under justice department policy and the federal case was dropped after his victory, with the state case stalled amid motions to drop the proceedings.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.