Biden awards Presidential Residents Medal to Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson, who led Jan. 6 choose committee
Washington — President Biden awarded the Presidential Residents Medal to Rep. Bennie Thompson and former Rep. Liz Cheney, the 2 lawmakers who led the Home choose committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.
Mr. Biden offered the awards to Thompson, Cheney and greater than a dozen different recipients throughout a ceremony on the White Home on Thursday.
“I have been honored to current legislation enforcement officers who defended our Capitol on Jan. 6, and the state and native election officers, elected leaders who defended the free and honest election of 2020,” Mr. Biden mentioned. “Right now we have a good time a brand new group of Individuals who devoted their careers to serving our democracy in different important methods.”
The White Home mentioned Cheney obtained her award for “placing the American individuals over get together” and Thompson obtained his for “his lifelong dedication to safeguarding our Structure.” Each Thompson and Cheney obtained loud applause and standing ovations as they obtained their awards.
“The Presidential Residents Medal is awarded to residents of the US of America who’ve carried out exemplary deeds of service for his or her nation or their fellow residents. President Biden believes these Individuals are bonded by their widespread decency and dedication to serving others. The nation is healthier due to their dedication and sacrifice,” the White Home mentioned in asserting these honored.
Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, and Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, served as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Home panel that was tasked with analyzing the occasions main as much as and on Jan. 6. In the middle of its probe, the committee held 10 public hearings, interviewed greater than 1,000 witnesses and compiled greater than 1 million pages of fabric.
Its work concluded in December 2022 after an investigation that spanned 18 months. The committee voted to refer President-elect Donald Trump and conservative lawyer John Eastman for felony prosecution due to their alleged efforts to subvert the peaceable switch of presidential energy on Jan. 6.
Trump was charged with 4 federal felony counts stemming from his efforts to carry onto energy after the 2020 presidential election, however the expenses have been dismissed following a request by particular counsel Jack Smith in November, after Trump was elected to a second time period. The particular counsel sought to finish the prosecution as a result of Justice Division coverage forbids the prosecution of a sitting president.
In its announcement of the recipients of the Presidential Residents Medal, the White Home mentioned that all through Cheney’s 20 years in public service, Cheney “has raised her voice — and reached throughout the aisle—to defend our Nation and the beliefs we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency. Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is feasible if we work collectively.”
Cheney turned an ardent opponent of Trump following the 2020 election and endorsed Harris for president.
The White Home mentioned of Thompson that he served “on the forefront of defending the rule of legislation with unwavering integrity and a steadfast dedication to reality” as chair of the Jan. 6 committee.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Cheney, Thompson and the Jan. 6 committee for the reason that 2020 election, claiming with out proof that they dedicated crimes and will go to jail. He advised NBC’s “Meet the Press” in early December that he “largely seemingly” will subject pardons to those that have been convicted or pleaded responsible for his or her actions on Jan. 6.
Mr. Biden is contemplating blanket preemptive pardons for outstanding critics of Trump from each events to guard them from attainable “retribution” or authorized prosecution by the incoming administration, a number of individuals aware of the continued discussions advised CBS Information earlier this month. Amongst those that have been into account are Cheney, Sen. Adam Schiff of California, who served on the Jan. 6 choose committee whereas within the Home, and retired Gen. Mark A. Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, who has known as Trump a “fascist.”
Along with Cheney and Thompson, Mr. Biden awarded the Presidential Residents Medal to Mary Bonauto, an legal professional who argued the landmark Supreme Court docket case that legalized same-sex marriage; Invoice Bradley, a former NBA participant and U.S. senator; and Diane Carlson Evans, who served as a nurse throughout the Vietnam Struggle and based the Vietnam Ladies’s Memorial Basis.
Former Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas and Ted Kaufman of Delaware have been additionally honored.
The Presidential Residents Medal was established in 1969 and is taken into account the second-highest civilian award of the U.S. authorities. It acknowledges “residents of the US of America who’ve carried out exemplary deeds of service for his or her nation or their fellow residents.”
