Biden to award Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson, who led Jan. 6 select committee

[ad_1] Washington — President Biden introduced Thursday that he's awarding 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 will ship remarks and current the awards to Thompson, Cheney, and greater than a dozen different recipients throughout a ceremony on the White Home later Thursday.

"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 frequent decency and dedication to serving others. The nation is best due to their dedication and sacrifice," the White Home stated in saying 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 inspecting the occasions main as much as and on Jan. 6. In the midst 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 following an investigation that spanned 18 months. The committee voted to refer President-elect Donald Trump and conservative lawyer John Eastman for prison prosecution due to their alleged efforts to subvert the peaceable switch of presidential energy on Jan. 6.

Trump was charged with 4 federal prison 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 stated 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.

Of Thompson, the White Home stated he served "on the forefront of defending the rule of legislation with unwavering integrity and a steadfast dedication to fact" as chair of the Jan. 6 committee.

Trump has repeatedly attacked Cheney, Thompson and the Jan. 6 Committee because the 2020 election, claiming with out proof that they dedicated crimes and may go to jail. He instructed NBC's "Meet the Press" in early December that he "largely probably" 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 doable "retribution" or authorized prosecution by the incoming administration, a number of individuals acquainted with the continued discussions instructed 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 Employees, who has known as Trump a "fascist."

Along with Cheney and Thompson, Mr. Biden will award the Presidential Residents Medal to Mary Bonauto, an lawyer 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 in the course of the Vietnam Warfare and based the Vietnam Girls's Memorial Basis.

Former Sens. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas and Ted Kaufman of Delaware will even be 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."

Melissa Quinn

Melissa Quinn is a politics reporter for CBSNews.com. She has written for shops together with the Washington Examiner, Each day Sign and Alexandria Occasions. Melissa covers U.S. politics, with a give attention to the Supreme Court docket and federal courts.