November 1, 2024 – (Phoenix, AZ) In yet another move that critics see as politically motivated, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced an investigation into former President Donald Trump’s recent comments about former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney. AG Mayes, a Democrat, claims Trump’s words could be interpreted as a “death threat” against Cheney—a claim many are calling a clear misrepresentation.
During an interview on *Sunday Square Off*, Mayes stated that her criminal division chief has been instructed to review Trump’s comments for potential legal violations. “I have already asked my criminal division chief to start looking at that statement, analyzing it for whether it qualifies as a death threat under Arizona’s laws,” Mayes said. She added, “I’m not prepared now to say whether it was or it wasn’t, but it is not helpful as we prepare for our election and as we try to make sure that we keep the peace at our polling places and in our state.”
This development comes as Vice President Kamala Harris also weighed in, calling Trump’s remarks “disqualifying” for someone seeking the presidency. “He has increased his violent rhetoric…suggested rifles should be trained on former Rep. Liz Cheney,” Harris told reporters, adding, “This must be disqualifying.” Harris went on to describe Trump as “increasingly unstable and unhinged.”
However, Trump’s comments were far from the violent threat being portrayed. During a high-profile Arizona event with Tucker Carlson, Trump spoke critically of Cheney’s support for extensive military engagements overseas—without the experience of facing the realities of war firsthand. His remarks were clearly aimed at highlighting the hypocrisy of leaders who advocate for military action while avoiding direct involvement themselves. He called Cheney a “radical war hawk,” challenging the double standards of policymakers who keep sending American troops into conflicts.
Referring to her “warmongering approach,” Trump remarked, “She’s a radical war hawk. Let’s put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, okay? Let’s see how she feels about it… They’re all war hawks when they’re sitting in Washington…saying, ‘Oh gee, let’s send 10,000 troops right into the mouth of the enemy.’”
Trump later defended his comments on Truth Social, explaining, “All I’m saying about Liz Cheney is that she is a War Hawk, and a dumb one at that, but she wouldn’t have ‘the guts’ to fight herself. It’s easy for her to talk, sitting far from where the death scenes take place, but put a gun in her hand, and let her go fight, and she’ll say, ‘No thanks!’” Trump further criticized Cheney’s family legacy, adding, “Her father decimated the Middle East, and other places, and got rich by doing so. He’s caused plenty of DEATH, and probably never even gave it a thought. That’s not what we want running our Country!”
Observers on both sides of the political aisle note that the attorney general’s investigation may amount to little more than an attempt to chill political speech by taking Trump’s words wildly out of context. Trump supporters argue that this approach is emblematic of a pattern: Democrats, they claim, are weaponizing the justice system to stifle conservative viewpoints, a tactic critics view as tantamount to gaslighting.
Moreover, Trump supporters argue that Mayes’ investigation distracts from more pressing matters, as well as other incidents that arguably warrant more scrutiny. Many recall that former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley, for example, reportedly made secret calls to China during Trump’s presidency—bypassing the president and allegedly divulging sensitive information. Milley’s actions, many argue, could have had serious implications in previous eras, raising questions about the threshold for investigating perceived threats to national security or breaches of protocol.
The incident is another reminder of the polarized political environment, in which political statements are often distorted for partisan gain. Trump’s remarks about Cheney were clearly intended to question the wisdom of supporting foreign conflicts rather than suggesting violence. In fact, his criticism of Cheney aligns with his broader anti-war stance, a perspective that resonates with voters wary of costly, endless conflicts.
As the investigation continues, this episode underscores ongoing concerns over how far political opponents are willing to go to curtail the speech of those with opposing views. It remains to be seen whether Mayes’ inquiry will lead to substantive action or be dismissed as another chapter in a contentious political landscape.
### Sources:
– NBC News: “[Arizona AG to Investigate Trump Comments](https://www.nbcnews.com/)”
– Truth Social
