Update (12:12 p.m., Wednesday, May 12): This story and its headline were updated following a statement from Rep. Stephanie Bice received after initial publication.
Three of Oklahoma's five U.S. Representatives, all Republicans, on Wednesday morning supported the successful vote to remove Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as House Republican conference chair due to her outspoken criticism of former President Donald Trump's repeated lies about the 2020 election.
In a Friday statement, Rep. Kevin Hern said he supported Cheney's removal from leadership.
"Congresswoman Cheney has proven that she will put her own interests over those of whom she was elected to lead as Conference Chair," Hern said. "In the press, Cheney has made it clear that her self-interests outweigh the interest of the Conference and the interest of the people we represent. This failure of leadership leaves me no choice but to call for her resignation. If she does not resign, I will vote to remove her from her leadership position."
On a telephone town hall with constituents Tuesday evening, Rep. Markwayne Mullin agreed that Cheney had put her own principles ahead of those of the caucus, the majority of whom -- including the entire Oklahoma delegation -- voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election Trump lost even after he incited the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol during the counting of Electoral College votes.
"You should always represent the majority, and Liz has over and over again put her own personal opinions above the conference," Mullin said.
In a statement, Rep. Stephanie Bice said she also supported Cheney's removal.
""I’m in Congress to serve my constituents, first and foremost, and as Republicans, we cannot let any divisiveness within the party distract us from that job," Bice said. "I have previously supported Rep. Cheney, I have enjoyed working with her and she has my utmost respect, but it’s time for the caucus to focus on our common goals. As such, this morning I voted to remove Representative Liz Cheney from leadership.
The offices of Reps. Tom Cole and Frank Lucas did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is expected to be replaced by New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, a less conservative Republican who since the insurrection has displayed greater loyalty to Trump and his baseless claims of a stolen election.
