Male GOP lawmakers are under fire from their female colleagues after for sexist comments towards Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) during a conference meeting over Cheny’s vote to impeach Donald Trump.
Some of the criticism against Cheney were decidedly sexist and were shared among GOP women in political circles in Washington, D.C. But a remark from Rep. Mike Kelly, of Pennsylvania drew furious push back, The New York Times Magazine reported on Thursday.
Kelly reportedly equated Cheney voting to impeach Trump to a football game, telling the conference, “You look up into the stands and see your girlfriend on the opposition’s side — that’s one hell of a tough thing to swallow,” according to The Times.
“She’s not your girlfriend!” a female colleague reportedly yelled out in response, according to The Times.
The news outlet reported that Kelly’s comment was immediately passed around circles of Republican women in professional Washington. Former GOP Rep. Barbara Comstock (Va.) told the Times she was “horrified” by the comment.
Another Republican, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), addressed Cheney as “Liz,” and said that her “defiant attitude” bothered him, adding that she was not being a “team player.”
Cheney reportedly refused to apologize for her vote when asked by several members, saying, “I cannot do that.”
The remarks targeting Cheney took place at a regular conference meeting behind closed doors on Feb. 3 and included calls for her to be removed from leadership.
In a statement following the censure in Wyoming, Cheney defended her impeachment vote, writing that she was “compelled by the oath I swore to the Constitution.”
“Wyoming citizens know that this oath does not bend or yield to politics or partisanship,” Cheney continued. “I will always fight for Wyoming values and stand up for our Western way of life.”
