WASHINGTON  — A combative Rep. Liz Cheney lashed out at leaders of her own Republican Party late Tuesday, accusing former President Donald Trump and his GOP supporters of following a path that would “undermine our democracy.”

On the eve of a closed-door meeting when House Republicans seem certain to oust her from a leadership post because of her clashes with the former president, Cheney, R-Wyo., took to the House floor to state her case.

What You Need To Know

  • On the eve of her likely ouster from House GOP leadership, Rep. Liz Cheney lashed out at leaders of her own party in a scathing floor speech

  • Cheney accused former President Donald Trump and his supporters in the Republican Party of following a path that would “undermine our democracy"
  • Much of Cheney's caucus exited the House chamber as she spoke, with just Colorado GOP Rep. Ken Buck staying to watch her speak

  • McCarthy, Scalise and Trump have backed New York Rep. Elise Stefanik to replace Cheney

"I will not sit back and watch in silence while others lead our party down a path that abandons the rule of law and joins the former president’s crusade to undermine our democracy,” Cheney said.

She did not mention party leaders by name. But House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and No. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise, R-La., have called for her removal after she repeatedly rejected Trump's false claim that he lost the November election due to widespread fraud, and for his role in encouraging supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.

“Today, we face threat America has never seen before," she told the nearly empty House chamber. "A former president who provoked a violent attack on this Capitol, in an effort to steal the election, has resumed his aggressive effort to convince Americans that the election was stolen from him. He risks inciting further violence.”

Much of Cheney's caucus exited the House chamber as she spoke, with just Colorado GOP Rep. Ken Buck staying to watch her speak.

"I am a conservative Republican, and the most conservative of conservative principles is reverence for the rule of law. The election is over. That is the rule of law. That is our constitutional process," she said. "Those who refuse to accept the rulings of our courts are at war with the Constitution."

"Every one of us who has sworn the oath must act to prevent the unraveling of our democracy. This is not about policy. This is not about partisanship. This is about our duty as Americans," she added. "Remaining silent and ignoring the lie emboldens the liar. I will not participate in that."

Top Republicans have asserted their chief objection has been that as No. 3 House GOP leader, Cheney should be focusing on messages that would help the party win House control in next year's elections, not on internal party divisions over the former president.

McCarthy, Scalise and Trump have backed New York Rep. Elise Stefanik to replace Cheney. Stefanik currently does not face opposition for the position.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.