Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning

Chapter 1 focuses on the immediate aftermath of the presidential election. Cheney describes how, despite early indications from Trump’s advisors about a potential “red mirage,” Trump prematurely claimed victory and alleged election fraud as mail-in votes were counted. Trump’s campaign manager, Bill Stepien, informed him that the changing vote counts were a normal part of the process, but Trump persisted in his claims of a stolen election.

Cheney also discusses House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s initial realistic stance about the election outcome and his later contradictory public declarations of Trump’s victory. She notes the legal right to challenge election results but expresses concern about Trump and his supporters’ unwillingness to accept the outcome.

Cheney discusses the internal dynamics of the House Republicans following the 2020 election. Despite some rumors of challenges, Cheney was reelected to her position as chair of the House Republican Conference without opposition.

Cheney’s narrative focus then settles on the post-election period, marked by Trump’s refusal to concede and his spreading of false claims of election fraud. Trump fired Chris Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, for countering his fraud claims. Krebs had emphasized the security and integrity of the election. In a notable event, Trump’s lawyers, including Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, held a press conference making allegations of widespread voter fraud. Cheney notes Giuliani’s appearance with hair dye streaming down his face as he made these claims.

Cheney highlights what she calls the absurdity and danger of these unfounded allegations, noting their impact on public perception and the undermining of electoral trust. Despite internal and external criticism, the Trump legal team continued to push their narratives.

Cheney outlines the legal aftermath of the election. Despite Trump and his supporters filing over 60 lawsuits alleging election fraud, they consistently failed in court. Trump’s claims, including those against Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, lacked evidence and were dismissed by dozens of courts, including those with judges appointed by Trump himself.

The chapter highlights the rhetoric that surrounded these allegations, including Georgia election official Gabe Sterling’s press conference, which raised the escalating personal threats and wider threat of violence following Trump’s claims and disinformation. Cheney criticizes Trump’s response to these threats and his continued promotion of falsehoods about the election.

Attorney General Bill Barr dismissed Trump’s claims, labeling them as baseless. This led to an angry response from Trump and didn’t deter the president from his course.

Cheney reflects on the rising tensions following the election. Despite the failure of Trump’s legal challenges, including a Supreme Court rejection, Trump continued to falsely claim election fraud. At a rally on December 12, Trump supporters, including General Michael Flynn and Trump Campaign Senior Adviser Katrina Pierson, made inflammatory speeches. Pierson hinted at taking action beyond legal means if the system failed, and Flynn dismissed the courts’ role in deciding the president, contradicting the election’s outcome.

Cheney highlights the rhetoric used at these rallies and a move toward unconstitutional actions.

Cheney addresses the confusion and misinformation surrounding election results and the constitutional role of Congress in the electoral process. As House Republican Conference chair, Cheney was frequently asked about the lawsuits filed by Trump and his allies, all of which were failed due to lack of evidence. She emphasizes that Trump’s legal avenues were rapidly exhausted and that the claims made by Rudy Giuliani and others were baseless.

Cheney focuses on the constitutional obligations of Congress, explaining that its role is ministerial and limited to counting the certified electoral votes. She rebuts as false the claims made by some Republicans that Congress could overturn the election results. Cheney and her husband, Philip Perry, an experienced constitutional lawyer, drafted a detailed memorandum for her Republican colleagues, clarifying the constitutional process and reaffirming the validity of the election results as determined by the courts.

Cheney details her concerns about Trump’s potential misuse of military power following his election loss. After reading a column by The Washington Post’s David Ignatius suggesting Trump might invoke the Insurrection Act to stay in power, Cheney discussed with her father and others the need for a public warning to Trump and his Pentagon appointees. They decided to mobilize former secretaries of defense to sign a letter of warning, an unprecedented move.

Cheney contacted former secretaries including James Mattis, Leon Panetta, and Donald Rumsfeld to secure their support. The letter, drafted with the help of Eric Edelman and Eliot Cohen, emphasized that any official attempting to use the military to overturn the election would be personally accountable for attacking the republic.

Cheney discusses a call with House Republicans about the January 6 joint session to count electoral votes. She emphasized their constitutional duty to count the votes and explained the lack of authority to object to them. Despite her clear stance, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy evaded a direct position, leading to frustration, particularly among new members looking for guidance. Cheney discovered that McCarthy was advising freshmen to object to the votes, which she sees as prioritizing Trump’s desires over constitutional obligations.

Former Speaker Paul Ryan publicly opposed objections to the electoral votes, highlighting the importance of adhering to democratic principles. In contrast, Senators led by Ted Cruz planned to object to electors from “disputed states” based on unfounded fraud claims, a move Cheney deems irresponsible and baseless.

Cheney recounts the solemn opening session of the 117th Congress on January 3, 2021. As House Republican Conference chair, she nominated Kevin McCarthy for Speaker, urging empathy and unity in her speech.

Cheney emphasized to House Republicans their constitutional duty to count electoral votes on January 6 and explained the unconstitutionality of objecting to them. Despite this, McCarthy remained evasive, frustrating those members seeking clear leadership.

Cheney’s speech included a reference to Trump’s pressuring call to Georgia’s Secretary of State, which Cheney hoped would deter House objections. McCarthy, however, planned to object. Congressman Chip Roy’s call for a recorded vote on seating new members highlights the contradiction in objecting to presidential results while accepting their own elections.

Cheney details the Trump campaign’s plan to challenge the electoral count on January 6. Trump attorney Jenna Ellis falsely claimed that seven states had “dueling slates of electors,” suggesting Vice President Pence could reject or not count electoral votes from these states during the joint session. Cheney clarifies that there were no legitimate dueling slates, as each state had certified a single slate of electors.

Cheney writes that the Trump team’s suggestion for Pence to act upon these fraudulent claims was illegal and risked national chaos. Despite multiple court losses, the Trump campaign continued to spread unfounded claims about election fraud.

Cheney recounts a critical meeting with House Republicans on the day before the January 6 joint session. The meeting, focused on electoral-vote objections, featured contrasting viewpoints: Mike Johnson advocating for objections based on unfounded constitutional violations and Chip Roy opposing them on legal and constitutional grounds. Johnson’s assertions were met with skepticism, as they contradicted court rulings and lacked evidence. Jim Jordan’s arguments also faced criticism for inaccuracies. The session highlights the division within the party and the constitutional implications of the upcoming vote.