Democratic Chairman of the January 6 Select Committee Bennie Thompson announced on Thursday that Republican Rep. Liz Cheney will become the panel’s vice chair, the latest sign that the Democrat-run committee is attempting to strike a bipartisan tone as it prepares to wade into politically contested waters.

Cheney, one of two Republicans to serve on the committee, has defied her party by joining the panel controlled by Democrats and even sacrificed her own position in leadership in order to remain vocal and outspoken about the need to investigate the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.

Now stepping into a more prominent role within the select committee, the Wyoming congresswoman will be even more at odds with her party as the panel begins to chart its investigation and directly target Republicans who could have been affiliated with the deadly attack or key to piecing together what then-President Donald Trump knew before and during it.