Liz Cheney says Trump should respect ‘sanctity’ of election if he can’t prove claims in court

Liz Cheney has become the first member of the Republican Party’s congressional leadership to apply any pressure on Donald Trump to concede the election to Joe Biden.

In a statement, Ms Cheney, who represents Wyoming’s at-large congressional district, advised the president that if he cannot prove his claims of electoral fraud he should respect “the sanctity of our electoral process”.

The number three Republican in the House of Representatives said: “America is governed by the rule of law. The president and his lawyers have made claims of criminality and widespread fraud, which they allege could impact election results. If they have genuine evidence of this, they are obligated to present it immediately in court and to the American people.”