Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) released audio that rebuts a claim by her winning rival, Harriet Hageman, that she did not deliver a message conceding defeat in their primary race on Tuesday.
Hageman did not play the voicemail during an interview when she made the claim Wednesday evening, but a couple of hours later, Politico obtained and published audio from Cheney’s campaign.
EXCLUSIVE: I’ve obtained audio from the Cheney campaign of the concession voicemail Rep. Liz Cheney’s left for Harriet Hageman last night.
The audio contradicts the narrative Hageman gave on Hannity tonight that she “didn’t address any kind of concession or anything else.” https://t.co/SZTxyyEmTn pic.twitter.com/LodE9YVVIW
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) August 18, 2022
“Hi, Harriet, it is Liz Cheney calling,” Cheney says after an aide is heard saying the Associated Press called the race for Hageman. “It is about 8:13 on Tuesday the 16th. I’m calling to concede the election and congratulate you on the win. Thanks.”
During an interview Wednesday evening on Fox News, Hageman said, “There wasn’t a phone call,” and noted Cheney left only a two-second voicemail on her cellphone as she was preparing to deliver her victory speech around 8:15 p.m. local time.
“She just said, ‘Hello, Harriet,’ and then hung up,” Hageman said of the voicemail, stressing that she has not had any other contact with Cheney since the primary. “She didn’t call and discuss with me any kind of concession,” Hageman said, adding, “I was obviously extremely busy with family and friends.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Hageman’s campaign asking for a copy of the audio. Politico later updated its report to note a Hageman spokesperson provided a video showing a voicemail from Cheney in which the message said, “Hi Harriet,” before the sound cuts out for more than 10 seconds.
Cheney, in delivering her concession speech on Tuesday, briefly mentioned that she called Hageman to concede the contest.
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“Tonight, Harriet Hageman has received the most votes in this primary. She won. I called her to concede the race. This primary election is over. But now, the real work begins,” the congresswoman said.
Cheney lost to Hageman, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, by more than 30 points in Tuesday’s GOP primary in the race to represent Wyoming’s at-large congressional district. Cheney told Politico that she attempted to call Hageman three times before leaving a voicemail and never heard back from Hageman.
Editor’s note: This report has been updated following the release of the audio from Cheney’s campaign.
