Top allies of President Trump in the House Republican conference circulated a petition on Wednesday demanding that Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) resign from her leadership position over her support for Trump's impeachment.
Why it matters: It captures the stark divisions in the GOP between the die-hard Trump loyalists and the establishment Republicans who want him gone for good.
The backdrop: Cheney, who as GOP conference chair is the third-ranking House Republican, publicly announced her support for impeaching President Trump on Tuesday, saying there has "never been a greater betrayal" by a president than his incitement of the Capitol siege.
Details: The petition states that Cheney's support for impeachment has "been used multiple times by Democrats as justification" for the process.
- Cheney's "personal position on issues does not reflect that of the majority of the Republican Conference and has brought the Conference into disrepute and produced discord," the petition states.
- Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who remains one of Trump's most loyal allies, told reporters on Wednesday that House Republicans "ought to vote on" whether to keep Cheney as conference chair.
The state of play: Five House Republicans, including Cheney, have said they will vote to impeach Trump.
