Vice President Kamala Harris' senior campaign spokesperson, Ian Sams, has faced scrutiny over his past criticisms of Liz Cheney, a former GOP Wyoming congresswoman and current Harris campaign surrogate. Sams had previously referred to Cheney as a 'warlord' and blamed her for leading the country into the Iraq War.
In 2019, Sams criticized Cheney on Twitter, accusing her of playing a role in leading the country into Iraq from a State Department Middle East post that he claimed was created for her by her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney. Additionally, in 2013, Sams made disparaging remarks about Cheney, calling her 'crazy' and referring to her as an 'aspiring warlord' in social media posts.
Despite his past criticisms, Sams has recently praised Cheney for endorsing Vice President Harris and has defended her against attacks from former President Donald Trump. Sams highlighted Cheney's endorsement of Harris and her commitment to putting country over party, comparing her to the late Senator John McCain's principle of 'country first.'
Sams also emphasized Harris' respect for 'true conservatives' like Cheney and noted that a significant number of former George W. Bush administration officials, who were involved in the Iraq War, have endorsed Harris.
The Trump campaign responded to Sams' past comments by accusing him of spreading misinformation about Cheney's role in the Iraq War. They criticized Sams for claiming that Cheney's father created a State Department position specifically for her, pointing out that the position existed before Cheney was hired.
Despite the controversy surrounding Sams' previous statements, he continues to advocate for Cheney and Harris, highlighting their bipartisan cooperation and national security endorsements. The evolving dynamics between Sams, Cheney, and Harris reflect the complex relationships within political campaigns and the shifting alliances that can occur in the political landscape.
