Introduction
Liz Cheney's "Oath and Honor" provides a gripping insider account of one of the most shocking events in recent American history - the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol. As a former Congresswoman who was present that day, Cheney offers unique insights into the weeks leading up to the attack, the day itself, and its ongoing aftermath.
This book serves as both a detailed memoir of Cheney's experiences and a stark warning about the fragility of American democracy. Through her first-hand perspective, readers gain an understanding of the behind-the-scenes conversations, decisions, and actions that culminated in an unprecedented assault on the peaceful transfer of power.
Cheney's account aims to ensure that the full truth about January 6 is known and its lessons are not forgotten. She argues that comprehending what truly happened is crucial for safeguarding America's democratic institutions going forward. With clarity and urgency, she lays out the facts as she witnessed them and sounds an alarm about the ongoing threats to the Constitution and rule of law.
The Seeds of Crisis: Questioning the 2020 Election
In the immediate aftermath of the November 2020 election, there were initial signs that Republican leadership was coming to terms with Joe Biden's victory, despite President Trump's refusal to concede. Cheney recounts a conversation with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy where they discussed Biden likely reaching the 270 electoral votes needed to win.
However, this acceptance of reality proved short-lived. Just hours after their talk, McCarthy appeared on Fox News declaring "President Trump won this election, so everyone who is listening, do not be quiet!" This sudden shift foreshadowed the coming storm, as more and more Republicans fell in line behind Trump's baseless claims of a stolen election.
Trump quickly began amplifying conspiracy theories about rigged voting machines and rallying his base to protest the "stolen" election. He filed over 60 lawsuits challenging the results in key states, all of which failed due to lack of evidence. When the courts rejected his claims, Trump turned to pressuring local and state officials directly.
Cheney describes how Trump personally called election officials in states like Georgia, urging them to "find" extra votes or recalculate totals in his favor. He also pushed state legislatures to override the popular vote and appoint pro-Trump electors instead. These desperate attempts to cling to power laid the groundwork for the events to come.
As Biden's victory became increasingly certain, Trump fixated on January 6 - the day Congress would certify the Electoral College results - as his last chance to stay in office. He began urging supporters to come to Washington D.C. for a "wild" protest that day, setting the stage for a showdown that would shake American democracy to its core.
Rallying the Base: Building Momentum Toward January 6
As Trump's legal challenges failed one by one, he intensified efforts to pressure officials and rally his base for a final stand on January 6. Cheney provides insight into how Trump and his allies worked to build momentum and draw supporters to Washington.
The Trump campaign sent fundraising emails promising free transportation and lodging to entice more people to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally. Online forums supporting Trump became hotbeds of conspiracy theories and outrage over imagined voter fraud. Militant groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers began openly discussing armed revolt if Trump's "victory" was not recognized.
Cheney recounts how Trump enlisted Congressional Republicans in his efforts. At Trump's request, Representative Mike Johnson emailed every House Republican, imploring them to sign an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit challenging election results in four swing states. Trump wanted to review the list of signatories personally, keeping track of who supported his claims.
Even after the Supreme Court unanimously rejected this lawsuit, Trump persisted in declaring he had won in a landslide. He continued calling state officials, trying to convince them to falsify vote totals or override the popular will. Some Republicans resisted these efforts, while others actively worked to undermine election integrity.
Trump also met with Congressional Republicans, demanding they object to certifying the Electoral College results on January 6. He focused particularly on Vice President Mike Pence, insisting Pence had the power to unilaterally reject pro-Biden electors from contested states. Pence maintained that he lacked such authority under the Constitution.
As January 6 approached, Trump's rhetoric grew increasingly urgent and inflammatory. He promised supporters that the day would be "wild" and that they had to "fight" to save their country. The stage was set for a volatile confrontation between Trump's most ardent followers and the institutions of American democracy.
The Calm Before the Storm: Final Preparations
In the days immediately preceding January 6, tensions reached a fever pitch as Trump and his inner circle made their final preparations. Cheney describes a campaign call on January 4 where Trump advisor Jenna Ellis falsely claimed that seven key states had submitted competing slates of electors. In reality, these "alternate" electors were entirely fabricated.
Ellis floated the idea that Vice President Pence could use these fake electors as justification to refuse counting votes from these states during the certification process. This would potentially throw the election into chaos, despite having no legal or constitutional basis.
On January 5, House Republicans gathered to debate whether they should object to electoral votes from certain states. Some argued that even discussing objections gave credence to Trump's baseless fraud claims. Others insisted on pursuing investigations into non-existent election irregularities.
Meanwhile, online forums continued whipping Trump supporters into a frenzy with increasingly outlandish conspiracy theories. Posts called for armed marches on the Capitol to "take back their country" by force if necessary. The volatile mixture of misinformation, anger, and calls to action was reaching a boiling point.
Trump himself continued personally calling state and local officials, pressuring them to "find votes" or somehow block Biden's victory. He hyped up expectations for major protests on January 6, prompting officials to erect security fencing around the Capitol in preparation.
As the fateful day dawned, the ingredients for disaster were all in place: a mob of angry supporters convinced the election was stolen, a president refusing to accept defeat, and a cadre of politicians willing to indulge dangerous lies for political gain. The assault on American democracy was poised to begin.
January 6: Democracy Under Attack
Cheney provides a minute-by-minute account of how events unfolded on January 6, painting a chilling picture of democracy under siege. The day began with the "Save America" rally near the White House, where speakers like Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and Mo Brooks further inflamed the crowd with false claims of election fraud.
Around noon, Trump himself took the stage for over an hour. He insisted he had won in a landslide and that the election was rigged and stolen. In a pivotal moment, Trump urged his supporters to march to the Capitol, promising he would join them there. He declared they would never take back the country with weakness and had to show strength.
Thousands of fired-up supporters then marched down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol. Around 2:00 PM, the first rioters broke through windows and forced their way inside the building. Capitol Police were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and ferocity of the mob.
Inside the Capitol, the scenes were chaotic and terrifying. Lawmakers were forced to evacuate or shelter in place as rioters roamed the halls, vandalizing offices and chanting threats. Cheney describes the fear and disbelief as the seat of American democracy came under violent attack.
Meanwhile, at the White House, Trump watched the mayhem unfold on live television. For hours, he resisted pleas from advisors to condemn the violence and call for the rioters to stand down. Instead, he fired off tweets attacking Vice President Pence for refusing to illegally block the vote certification.
It wasn't until around 4:00 PM that Trump finally released a video telling rioters to go home - while still insisting the election had been stolen. By that point, the damage was done. The Capitol had been ransacked, multiple people were dead or injured, and America's image as a beacon of democracy was shattered.
As night fell, law enforcement finally regained control of the building. In a show of resolve, Congress reconvened that same evening to complete the certification of Biden's victory. But the scars of January 6 would not fade so quickly.
The Aftermath: A Damaged Democracy
In the days and weeks following the attack, the full scope of the damage became clear. Cheney describes the Capitol building left in ruins, with smashed windows, overturned furniture, and even human feces smeared on the walls. The physical destruction was matched by the psychological trauma inflicted on those who lived through the assault.
Over 140 police officers suffered injuries, some severe enough to require hospitalization. Officer Brian Sicknick died the next day from injuries sustained while defending the Capitol. The toll on the guardians of democracy was immense.
Rather than express remorse or honor the fallen, Trump continued to praise the rioters and push the lie of a stolen election. Some of his supporters even tried to rewrite history, falsely claiming the attack had been peaceful or comparing it to civil rights protests.
The political fallout was swift. The House quickly moved to impeach Trump for inciting insurrection. Key Republican officials and White House staff resigned in protest. Corporate donors began cutting off funding to Republicans who had objected to certifying the election results.
To prevent further violence, thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to secure the Capitol. Unprecedented security measures were put in place for Biden's upcoming inauguration as online threats of more attacks persisted.
On January 20, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President on the same Capitol steps that had been overrun just two weeks earlier. His inaugural address emphasized unity and resolving to "defend the truth and defeat the lies" - a clear rebuke of the falsehoods that had fueled the insurrection.
While a new administration took power, the work of uncovering the full truth about January 6 and holding people accountable was just beginning. Cheney describes her decision to join the House select committee investigating the attack, despite facing intense criticism from her own party. She saw it as her duty to establish the facts and defend democracy, regardless of political cost.
Seeking Accountability: Investigations and Hearings
In the months following January 6, multiple investigations were launched to uncover the truth behind the attack and prevent anything similar from happening again. Cheney provides an inside look at these efforts to establish accountability.
A Senate report detailed the security failures that left law enforcement unprepared and overwhelmed when confronted by the violent mob. The FBI pursued charges against hundreds of individual rioters, securing convictions for serious offenses like seditious conspiracy against members of far-right groups that helped coordinate the attack.
The House select committee, on which Cheney served, conducted an exhaustive investigation and held multiple public hearings. These hearings revealed the full extent of efforts to overturn the election both before and during January 6.
Testimony showed how Trump allies were involved in organizing "Stop the Steal" rallies, raising funds, and developing plans to pressure Vice President Pence into rejecting state electors. White House staff described Trump's refusal to call off rioters, instead watching the violence unfold on television for hours.
The committee uncovered evidence of a coordinated attempt to promote lies about election fraud and illegally keep Trump in power. Texts and emails demonstrated the web of Republicans involved in objections that helped fuel the attack. Cheney argues these findings made clear the ongoing threat to democracy posed by election lies and political violence.
Perhaps most damning were the revelations about Trump's own actions and mindset. Witnesses from his inner circle testified about his continued attempts to "find votes" and even discussions of declaring martial law, even after the Capitol had been attacked. The hearings laid bare Trump's willingness to sacrifice democratic norms and the peaceful transfer of power in order to maintain his grip on the presidency.
A Warning for the Future
Cheney concludes her account with a stark warning about the ongoing dangers facing American democracy. She argues that the events surrounding January 6 demonstrated that Trump's inflammatory rhetoric should be taken at face value - when he talks about taking extreme measures to hold onto power, he means it.
Even now, years after leaving office, Trump continues to make alarming statements about suspending the Constitution and seeking retribution against his political opponents if he regains power. Cheney cautions that these are not idle threats, but previews of how Trump would govern if given a second term.
She outlines how a future Trump administration could systematically erode constitutional checks and balances, aided by unethical lawyers and advisors willing to twist the law to serve his will. Step by step, the foundations of America's democratic republic could be dismantled.
Cheney argues that Trump has already shown his willingness to dismantle democratic norms, pressure officials to break the law, and ignore judicial rulings when it suits him. If he were to regain the presidency, there would be even fewer guardrails to constrain these authoritarian impulses.
The threat goes beyond Trump himself. Cheney warns about the broader movement of "election deniers" and those willing to use political violence to achieve their goals. She argues that allowing lies about election fraud to go unchallenged creates fertile ground for future attacks on democracy.
Ultimately, Cheney's message is that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. The events of January 6 must serve as a wake-up call about how quickly democratic institutions can be imperiled. She calls on all Americans, regardless of party, to stand up for truth and the rule of law.
Only by fully reckoning with what happened on January 6 and in the weeks leading up to it can similar assaults on democracy be prevented in the future. Cheney argues that this is not about partisan politics, but about preserving the constitutional system that has sustained American freedom for over two centuries.
Conclusion: Democracy at a Crossroads
"Oath and Honor" serves as both a detailed historical account and an urgent call to action. Through her insider perspective, Liz Cheney provides crucial insights into one of the darkest days in recent American history. Her meticulous recounting of events leading up to January 6 exposes the web of lies, pressure campaigns, and cynical political maneuvering that set the stage for violence.
But beyond simply recounting what happened, Cheney's book is a passionate defense of constitutional democracy and the rule of law. She argues that the system of checks and balances, respect for election results, and peaceful transfers of power are what have allowed America to flourish. When these norms are attacked or eroded, the very foundations of the republic are at risk.
Cheney's warning is clear: the threat to democracy did not end on January 6, 2021. The lies about election fraud that fueled the Capitol attack continue to circulate. Political violence is increasingly seen as an acceptable tool by extremists. And some politicians still seem willing to undermine democratic institutions for short-term gain.
Yet Cheney's message is not one of despair. She believes that by fully understanding what happened and holding those responsible accountable, America can emerge stronger. But this requires sustained commitment from citizens and leaders alike to put country over party and truth over expedience.
"Oath and Honor" is ultimately a reminder of the fragility of democracy and the need for constant vigilance to preserve it. Cheney argues that all Americans must recommit to their civic duty, stand up against lies and extremism, and work to strengthen democratic institutions.
The book closes with a call for unity in defense of America's constitutional system. Cheney believes that despite political differences, there is far more that unites Americans than divides them. By reaffirming shared values of freedom, rule of law, and democratic self-governance, she argues the nation can move past this troubled chapter and build a stronger future.
But this outcome is not guaranteed. It will require courage, commitment, and a willingness to put principles above politics. "Oath and Honor" stands as a powerful testimony to the stakes involved and a roadmap for preserving American democracy in the face of ongoing threats.