Biden to give second highest civilian award to leaders of January 6 congressional panel
The Hindu
President Biden awards Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 individuals, including Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, for exemplary service.
President Joe Biden is bestowing the second highest civilian medal on Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson — the lawmakers who led the congressional investigation into the violent January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot by Donald Trump's supporters, and who Trump has said should be jailed.
Mr. Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 people in a ceremony Thursday (January 2, 2024) at the White House, including Americans who fought for marriage equality, a pioneer in treating wounded soldiers, and two of the President's longtime friends, former Sens Ted Kaufman, D-Del, and Chris Dodd, D-Conn.
“President Biden believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others,” the White House said in a statement. “The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice.”
Also Read | Capitol riot panel blames Donald Trump for January 6 ‘attempted coup’
Mr. Biden last year honoured people who were involved in defending the Capitol from the rioters, or who helped safeguard the will of American voters during the 2020 presidential election, when Trump tried and failed to overturn the results.
Ms. Cheney, who was a Republican representative from Wyoming, and Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, led the House committee that probed the insurrection. Ms. Cheney later said she would vote for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential race and even campaigned with her, raising Mr. Trump's ire. Mr. Biden has been considering whether to offer preemptive pardons to Cheney and others Trump has targeted.
Mr. Trump, who won the 2024 election and will take office on January 20, still refuses to back away from his lies about the 2020 Presidential race and has said he would pardon the rioters once he takes office.
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