A bunch of Republican critics of former President Donald Trump will collect in Washington, D.C., this week to cheer on the 2 GOP members of the Home choose committee investigating the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.
Their two-day convention, known as "Rules First: The Summit," may even champion state GOP officers who refused to assist Trump's efforts to dam President Joe Biden from taking workplace after the 2020 election.
CBS Information obtained a four-page draft of the schedule for the grassroots gathering, which shall be held February 26-27 on the Nationwide Press Membership.
Republican lawyer Heath Mayo, founding father of Rules First for America, the advocacy group internet hosting the summit, confirmed the schedule.
The timing of the occasion is notable, coming as Trump and his allies communicate that very same weekend on the high-profile Conservative Political Motion Convention in Orlando, Florida. Final yr, CPAC was a bastion of Trump assist, with attendees posing subsequent to a golden fiberglass reproduction of the previous president and giving him a roaring welcome to the stage.
Mayo stated in an interview that his occasion would "actually be counterprogramming of CPAC" and a chance for Republicans cautious of Trump and his grip over the GOP to community and have early discussions about whether or not their wing of the get together may coalesce behind a likeminded contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
"We need to come collectively in a visible present of assist for individuals who have taken stands for concepts when it hasn't been comfy," Mayo stated. "You do not see these people, but, in rooms which are energized. However I feel the power is there. We'll see what number of people present up."
Mayo added, "I consider there's a lane right here for 2024. The get together is totally caught in a rut speaking about if the final election is authentic and if Liz Cheney, [Maryland Governor Larry] Hogan, or another person is compelling and desires to run, I feel lots of people would pay attention."
Hogan, a Trump critic who not too long ago handed on working for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland, has stated he would contemplate a attainable 2024 presidential candidacy.
Mayo stated a outstanding member of the Republican Nationwide Committee, Invoice Palatucci of New Jersey, was a latest addition to Saturday's convention schedule. Palatucci's determination to look follows tensions contained in the RNC about its fervent political and monetary assist for Trump, who's going through a number of authorized challenges and investigations.
Palatucci, a longtime confidant of Chris Christie, the previous GOP governor of New Jersey, opposed the RNC earlier this month for passing a decision at its winter assembly in Salt Lake Metropolis that censured Cheney and Kinzinger for his or her roles on the Home choose committee.
"They invited me to talk after what occurred on the RNC and I am pleased to do it," Palatucci stated in an interview. "It is vital to have these conversations out within the open."
Cheney will communicate to the summit remotely on February 26, and Kinzinger will ship a closing keynote speech on February 27, in line with the schedule. Former Virginia Republican Congressman Denver Riggleman, who's a senior staffer on the choose committee, can also be scheduled to talk.
Final Thursday, simply weeks after the RNC's decision in opposition to Cheney and Kinzinger, Home Republican Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy endorsed Cheney's major challenger in Wyoming, trial lawyer Harriet Hageman.
McCarthy's backing of Hageman adopted months of public disputes involving Cheney and the Republican Social gathering, stemming from her vote to question Trump after the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Cheney had beforehand served on McCarthy's management crew because the Home GOP's convention chair earlier than she was voted out in Might 2021.
Georgia's Republican lieutenant governor, Geoff Duncan, can also be scheduled to talk in particular person at "Rules First: The Summit" on February 27. Duncan has been attacked by Trump for standing by Georgia's Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who licensed Mr. Biden's victory within the state amid stress from Trump and different Republicans. Raffensperger is scheduled to deal with the convention remotely, Mayo stated.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, a central determine within the first impeachment proceedings in opposition to Trump, can also be on the convention's checklist of audio system, as is Capitol Police Workplace Harry Dunn.
Dunn, a Black police officer, testified earlier than the choose committee final yr and stated he confronted intense racism and violence whereas he was on responsibility in the course of the assault on the Capitol.
Aaron Navarro and Adam Brewster contributed reporting.