Politico correspondent Olivia Beavers obtained audio from Wyoming Republican Representative Liz Cheney's campaign that contradicts a claim made by her opponent Harriet Hageman that Cheney did not concede her primary after losing earlier this week.
Hageman—who has received former Republican President Donald Trump's endorsement—had lied when she claimed Cheney said “Hello, Harriet” and hung up, leaving "a very brief two-second message on my cellphone” but no actual concession.
Cheney's campaign released audio of the call to Politico and it's evident Hageman was not telling the truth.
Cheney can clearly be heard leaving the following message:
Hi, Harriet, Liz Cheney calling. It is about 8:13 on Tuesday the 16th. I’m calling to concede the election and congratulate you on the win. Thanks. Bye Bye.”
You can hear the audio below.
\u201cEXCLUSIVE: I\u2019ve obtained audio from the Cheney campaign of the concession voicemail Rep. Liz Cheney\u2019s left for Harriet Hageman last night.\n\nThe audio contradicts the narrative Hageman gave on Hannity tonight that she \u201cdidn\u2019t address any kind of concession or anything else.\u201d\u201d— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia Beavers) 1660794431
Beavers later updated her followers, noting she had spoken to Cheney who'd told her she'd left a "clear and direct" voicemail for Hageman before taking the stage to officially deliver her concession speech.
Cheney said she'd tried several times to speak directly to Hageman but to no avail.
\u201cNEW: Rep. Liz Cheney tells me her concession call to Harriet Hageman ended up being a "clear and direct" voicemail that she left before she went on stage last night, after trying multiple times to get in touch w/ her. \n\nCheney says she still has not heard anything back.\u201d— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia Beavers) 1660752618
Hageman's campaign was harshly criticized for lying since the Cheney campaign's audio was released.
\u201cTrumpists lie like you and I breathe.\u201d— Faith Back Rub (@Faith Back Rub) 1660841367
\u201cHageman lied? I'm shocked!\u201d— Tim the Enchanter \ud83e\uddd9\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83c\udf7b (@Tim the Enchanter \ud83e\uddd9\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83c\udf7b) 1660837646
\u201cHageman went on Sean Hannity to lie that Liz Cheney never called & conceded.\n\nGreat way to start her career in Congress. More lies.\u201d— Pam (@Pam) 1660827067
\u201cPROOF POSITIVE. Cheney left a clear message conceding to Hageman. Hageman lied on Hannity saying Liz did not concede. Wyoming, you have yourself a real doozy for a Rep. now. Regrets?\u201d— Maggie (@Maggie) 1660841598
\u201cNutjob #Hageman lying already, and really about nothing. Shocker\u201d— Bonnie \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udcce\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf0a #VoteBlue2022 (@Bonnie \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udcce\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf0a #VoteBlue2022) 1660842650
\u201cAll they do is lie!\u201d— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 Jada \ud83c\udf0a\ud83d\udc99\ud83c\udf0a\ud83d\udc99 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\udeabNO LISTS PLEASE\ud83d\udeab (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 Jada \ud83c\udf0a\ud83d\udc99\ud83c\udf0a\ud83d\udc99 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83d\udeabNO LISTS PLEASE\ud83d\udeab) 1660828731
\u201cLordy, there is a tape! I'm sure Hageman will apologize to @Liz_Cheney for this blatant lie in 3..2..1 \ud83e\udd97\ud83e\udd97\ud83e\udd97\ud83e\udd97\ud83e\udd97\u201d— Leslie Jones (@Leslie Jones) 1660832416
\u201cToddlers lie all the time! Turns out potential gov officials supported by TFG are the same.\nStraight line from \u2018leader\u2019 to minion. Craven & disturbing people. No need to lie in this case, but she did\u2026 on national TV.\u201d— Kyle King (@Kyle King) 1660832299
Hageman's spokesperson attempted to counter the Cheney campaign's audio by releasing video to Politico of Hageman listening to the message for two seconds before the sound appears to cut off.
Cheney conceded defeat just as The Associated Press called the race for Hageman. The Trump pick backed Trump's lies the 2020 presidential election was stolen in stark contrast to Cheney, who was scorned by her own party because of her refusal to accept—let alone parrot—Trump's "Big Lie."
In her speech, Cheney acknowledged "Hageman has received the most votes in this primary" but hit back at falsehoods she spread, saying the United States "cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.”
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