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Biden to honor Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson with top civilian award : NPR
Former Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Bennie Thompson, who headed the Jan. 6 committee, will be honored by President Biden with the Presidential Citizens Medal.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
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Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
President Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who led the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6 , 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The Presidential Citizens Medal honors Americans who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. It is the second-highest civilian honor a president can bestow and awarding it to Cheney and Thompson sends a signal.
President-elect Trump has criticized the pair repeatedly, falsely accusing them of breaking the law with their investigation into his actions on and around Jan. 6.
“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.”
Biden is also set to award the medal to several civil rights leaders and advocates who worked on issues he championed in his career, among others. Among those being honored are two of Biden’s longtime friends, former Sens. Ted Kaufman, D-Del., and Chris Dodd, D-Conn. Bill Bradley, the former Democratic senator from New Jersey, NBA all star, and presidential candidate, is also on the list of honorees.
In all Biden will award the Citizens Medal to 20 people.
Last year he awarded 14 people with the medal for their work protecting the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection and for overseeing the 2020 election process despite efforts to overturn the results.
Cheney was one of two Republicans on the panel that investigated Jan. 6. The panel recommended that Trump be prosecuted by the Department of Justice on four charges: obstruction of an official proceeding; conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to make a false statement; and conspiracy to defraud the U.S. by assisting, aiding or comforting those involved in an insurrection.
Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, has said he’d pardon some of those convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 riot. He has repeatedly dismissed the findings of the Jan. 6 committee and attacked Cheney on social media.
In a historic move, President Biden has announced plans to honor Representative Liz Cheney and Representative Bennie Thompson with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. This decision comes in recognition of their unwavering commitment to upholding democracy and standing up for the truth.
Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming, has shown immense courage in speaking out against former President Trump and his false claims of election fraud. Despite facing backlash from within her own party, she has remained steadfast in her defense of the Constitution and the rule of law.
Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi, has been a champion for civil rights and social justice throughout his career. As the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, he has worked tirelessly to address issues of national security and protect the rights of all Americans.
By honoring Cheney and Thompson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Biden is sending a powerful message about the importance of bipartisanship and the need to uphold democratic values. These two lawmakers have shown that political differences can be set aside in the name of truth, justice, and the greater good.
The ceremony to present the awards will take place later this year, and it is sure to be a momentous occasion. Let us join together in celebrating the incredible contributions of Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson to our nation and our democracy.
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Biden administration, Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson, civilian award, presidential honor, National Public Radio, political news, current events
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