President Biden moved just hours before leaving office on Monday to guard some of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s most high-profile adversaries against a promised campaign of “retribution” by issuing pre-emptive pardons to head off politically driven prosecutions.
Among those receiving the pardons were Gen. Mark A. Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the longtime government scientist; and all the members of the bipartisan House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, including former Representative Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming.
“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. “But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety and financial security of targeted individuals and their families.
“Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances,” he added.
In issuing the pre-emptive pardons, Mr. Biden effectively turned the president’s constitutional power of forgiveness into a protective shield against what he maintains would be politically motivated vengeance. No other president has employed executive clemency in such a broad and overt way to thwart a successor he believes would abuse his power.
His action offered a dramatic testament to how radically power will shift in Washington at noon when Mr. Trump takes the oath to succeed Mr. Biden. In the morning, the outgoing president used his pardon authority to protect those who investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. In the afternoon, the incoming president has said he will pardon many of those who mounted the attack.
“Innocent people are being pardoned in the morning, and guilty people are being pardoned in the afternoon,” Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland, and a member of the Jan. 6 committee, said in an interview. “It is strange to receive a pardon simply for doing your job and upholding your constitutional oath of office. But the incoming administration has been consistently leveling threats.”
Mr. Biden emphasized that he did not issue the pardons because any of the recipients actually committed crimes. “The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” he said.
Throughout his campaign last year, Mr. Trump threatened to prosecute Democrats, election workers, law enforcement officials, intelligence officials, reporters, former members of his own staff and Republicans who do not support him, often without identifying any specific criminal activity.
General Milley, Ms. Cheney and Dr. Fauci were among those singled out by name by Mr. Trump and his allies. Mr. Biden also extended pardons on Monday to the entire staff of the Jan. 6 investigating committee as well as to the Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department officers who testified during the inquiry.
Ms. Cheney did not immediately react to the pardons, but General Milley and Dr. Fauci publicly thanked Mr. Biden.
“After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our Nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights,” General Milley said in a statement. “I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety.”
Dr. Fauci likewise pointed to his long career in public service and noted that he had been the subject of politically motivated threats of prosecution. “There is absolutely no basis for these threats,” he said in his own statement. “Let me be perfectly clear: I have committed no crime and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me.
“The fact is, however, that the mere articulation of these baseless threats, and the potential that they will be acted upon, create immeasurable and intolerable distress for me and my family,” he added.
Not everyone targeted by Mr. Trump welcomed pardons, arguing that accepting them would give the impression that they had done something wrong.
“As soon as you take a pardon, it looks like you are guilty of something,” former Representative Adam Kinzinger, Republican of Illinois who served on the Jan. 6 committee along with Ms. Cheney, said on CNN this month.
“I am guilty of nothing besides bringing the truth to the American people and, in the process, embarrassing Donald Trump. Because for 187 minutes, he sat there and did absolutely nothing and showed how weak and scared he truly was,” he added, referring to the former president’s inaction during the attack on Jan. 6. “So no, I don’t want it.”
Others said it would be an inappropriate use of the pardon power. “It would be the wrong precedent to set,” Senator Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California, who led the prosecution during Mr. Trump’s first impeachment trial and also served on the Jan. 6 committee, said on CNN this month. “I don’t want to see each president hereafter on their way out the door giving a broad category of pardons to members of their administration.”
But since the pardon for the committee members was issued to a category of people rather than to named individuals, it did not require recipients to accept them. The committee members issued a statement in the name of their chairman, Representative Bennie G. Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi, thanking Mr. Biden. “We have been pardoned today not for breaking the law but for upholding it,” Thompson said.
Michael Fanone, one of the police officers covered by the pardon, said he did not want a pardon and never spoke with anyone from the White House about it, but expressed anger and dismay at the fact that Mr. Biden felt compelled to grant him clemency.
Mr. Fanone, who engaged in hand-to-hand combat with rioters on Jan. 6, said it was “insane that we live in a country where the president of the United States feels the need to offer a pre-emptive pardon to American citizens who testified in an investigation regarding an insurrection which was incited by the incoming president because he’s promised to enact, or exact, vengeance on those participants and the body that investigated them.”
Lawyers for Harry Dunn and Aquilino Gonnell, two police witnesses who have been outspoken about the Jan. 6 attack, said the pardons for them “were never sought, nor was there any consultation with the White House.”
Their lawyers, Mark S. Zaid and David H. Laufman, called it “disturbing” that the “continuing threats and attacks by the extreme right, along with the rewriting of the truth surrounding that day’s events, sadly justifies the decision.”
Mr. Biden’s use of the pardon power to immunize people who have not even come under investigation, much less been charged or convicted of a crime, has no clear precedent. But some legal scholars have said that he is within the boundaries of his authority. The closest precedent might be President Gerald R. Ford’s pardon of his disgraced predecessor, Richard M. Nixon, in 1974 even though he had not been charged with any crimes.
But Mr. Nixon faced a real threat of prosecution from a special counsel investigating the Watergate scandal that forced his resignation, and Mr. Ford was not acting to thwart a future president the way Mr. Biden is.
Dr. Fauci, who served in government for half a century and as the nation’s top infectious disease expert for 38 years under multiple presidents of both parties, was targeted by Mr. Trump’s far-right allies for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Stephen K. Bannon, Mr. Trump’s former strategist, has said that Dr. Fauci, General Milley and others should be prosecuted. “You deserve what we call a rough Roman justice, and we’re prepared to give it to you,” Mr. Bannon said on election night.
In addition to Ms. Cheney, Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Raskin and Mr. Thompson, other members of the Jan. 6 investigating committee covered by Mr. Biden’s pardon include Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Pete Aguilar of California and former Representatives Stephanie Murphy of Florida and Elaine Luria of Virginia, all Democrats.
Mr. Biden’s pardons did not extend to a variety of other potential Trump targets, including the federal and state prosecutors who indicted the incoming president for trying to overturn the 2020 election, mishandling classified documents and covering up hush money payment to an adult film star who claimed she had a fling with Mr. Trump.
Three of the four criminal indictments against him have now been dismissed or effectively thwarted by his election back to the presidency, but Mr. Trump’s conviction on 34 felonies from the hush money case stands, making him the first felon ever inaugurated as president.
Helene Cooper, Michael S. Schmidt, Devlin Barrett and Luke Broadwater contributed reporting.
In a shocking move during his final hours in office, President Joe Biden has issued a series of controversial pardons to key figures in the political and military spheres. Among those pardoned are former Vice President Dick Cheney, top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley.
The decision to pardon Cheney, Fauci, and Milley has sparked outrage and speculation among political commentators and the public alike. Some see it as a last-minute attempt by Biden to protect these individuals from potential reprisals from the incoming administration, while others view it as a strategic move to maintain stability and continuity in key positions.
Cheney, a polarizing figure known for his role in the Iraq War and controversial policies, has been a target of criticism and legal scrutiny for years. Fauci, on the other hand, has been a leading voice in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and has faced backlash from some quarters for his handling of the crisis. Milley, as the country’s top military officer, has been at the center of debates over national security and civil-military relations.
While the pardons have been met with mixed reactions, one thing is certain: they will have far-reaching implications for the future of American politics and the continued influence of these powerful figures. Only time will tell how these pardons will be remembered in the annals of history.
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President Biden awarded the leaders of the former Jan. 6 House Select Committee, former Republican Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney and Mississippi Democrat Rep. Bennie Thompson, the second-highest civilian medal for their “exemplary deeds of service for their country,” according to the White House.
“The Presidential Citizens Medal is awarded to citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. President Biden believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others. The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice,” the White House detailed in a statement Thursday.
The White House announced 20 people across the nation would receive the Presidential Citizens Medal on Thursday, including Cheney and Thompson, who Biden lauded as “intrepid” and holding a “steadfast commitment to truth.”
“Throughout two decades in public service, including as a Congresswoman for Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6 attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice—and reached across the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency. Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together,” the White House said in its statement of Cheney.
Committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol holds its final meeting on Dec. 19, 2022. Committee Chair Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., is shown at left.(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
“Born and raised in a segregated Mississippi, as a college student inspired by the Civil Rights movement, Bennie Thompson volunteered on campaigns and registered southern Black voters. That call to serve eventually led him to Congress, where he chaired the House January 6th Committee—at the forefront of defending the rule of law with unwavering integrity and a steadfast commitment to truth,” the statement on Thompson read.
Thompson served as the chair of the Jan. 6 select committee, with Cheney serving as the vice chair. The Jan. 6 committee was founded in July 2021 to investigate the breach of the U.S. Capitol earlier that year by supporters of Trump ahead of President Biden officially taking office on Jan. 20. The Jan. 6 committee’s investigation was carried out when Democrats held control of the House.
The committee concluded its 18-month investigation in 2023, after Republicans regained control of the House, and sent referrals to the Justice Department recommending that Trump be criminally prosecuted for his involvement in the lead-up to his supporters breaching the Capitol.
Chair Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., speaks as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol holds a hearing on June 16, 2022.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Incoming Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., reacted to Biden’s decision to award Cheney with the medal in a comment to Fox Digital on Thursday, slamming her as a former elected official who “represents partisanship and divisiveness.”
“President Biden was either going to pardon Liz Cheney or give her an award. She doesn’t deserve either. She represents partisanship and divisiveness, not Wyoming,” he said.
Republican elected officials and President-elect Donald Trump have railed against the committee and its leaders for years, with a recent Republican House report calling on the FBI to investigate Cheney for “potential criminal witness tampering” related to her role on the former select committee.
Former Philadelphia Police Chief Al Schmidt testifies in front of Congress.(Jabin Botsford/Pool via REUTERS/File)
“Based on the evidence obtained by this Subcommittee, numerous federal laws were likely broken by Liz Cheney, the former Vice Chair of the January 6 Select Committee, and these violations should be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” stated a report released last month by House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight Chair Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga. “Evidence uncovered by the Subcommittee revealed that former Congresswoman Liz Cheney tampered with at least one witness, Cassidy Hutchinson, by secretly communicating with Hutchinson without Hutchinson’s attorney’s knowledge.”
Cheney and Thompson both slammed the report in comments to Fox Digital last month.
“The January 6th Committee’s hearings and report featured scores of Republican witnesses, including many of the most senior officials from Trump’s own White House, campaign and Administration,” Cheney said. “All of this testimony was painstakingly set out in thousands of pages of transcripts, made public along with a highly detailed and meticulously sourced 800 page report. Now, Chairman Loudermilk’s ‘Interim Report’ intentionally disregards the truth and the Select Committee’s tremendous weight of evidence, and instead fabricates lies and defamatory allegations in an attempt to cover up what Donald Trump did. Their allegations do not reflect a review of the actual evidence, and are a malicious and cowardly assault on the truth. No reputable lawyer, legislator or judge would take this seriously.”
President Biden(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/File)
Cheney had served as the third-highest ranking Republican in the House but was ousted from her role as GOP conference chair by her colleagues in 2021. Cheney lost her 2022 primary run for re-election to Trump-backed Rep. Harriet Hageman.
The report followed speculation that Biden could grant Cheney a presidential pardon ahead of leaving the Oval Office. Late last year, Trump renewed his longstanding criticisms of Cheney and the Jan. 6 committee, suggesting she and Thompson could face jail time.
“Cheney did something that’s inexcusable, along with Thompson and the people on the un-select committee of political thugs and, you know, creeps,” he said in an interview with NBC. “They deleted and destroyed all evidence.”
“And Cheney was behind it. And so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee,” he continued. “For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail.”
The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second-highest honor a civilian can receive from the president, after the Presidential Medal of Freedom, according to the Associated Press.
In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden has awarded Liz Cheney, the chairwoman of the Jan 6 committee, with a prestigious medal for her dedication to uncovering the truth behind the Capitol insurrection. In a ceremony at the White House, Biden praised Cheney for her unwavering commitment to upholding democracy and holding those responsible for the events of January 6th accountable.
During his speech, Biden stated, “The United States is better because of the dedication and hard work of individuals like Liz Cheney. She has shown immense courage in the face of adversity and has been a true patriot in her pursuit of justice. We owe her a debt of gratitude for her tireless efforts to uncover the truth and ensure that such a dark day in our nation’s history never happens again.”
Cheney, who has faced backlash from members of her own party for her role in the committee, expressed gratitude for the recognition and vowed to continue fighting for the truth. “I am honored to receive this medal from President Biden, but the real honor is in serving my country and working towards a more just and transparent government. The events of January 6th were an attack on our democracy, and it is our duty to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
The awarding of this medal to Cheney highlights the importance of bipartisan cooperation in the pursuit of truth and justice. It serves as a reminder that, despite political differences, we must all come together to defend our democracy and uphold the values that make America great.
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WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Joe Biden on Thursday will honor former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., with the Presidential Citizens Medal, the White House reportedly announced.
The medal, according to the National Archives, recognizes “citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.” It is the nation’s second-highest civilian award, behind only the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The White House explained Cheney will receive the award in part for her work on the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack, according to The New York Times.
“Throughout two decades in public service, including as a congresswoman for Wyoming and vice chair of the committee on the Jan. 6 attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice — and reached across the aisle — to defend our nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency,” the White House told The New York Times. “Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together.”
A total of 20 people will reportedly receive the medal Thursday, including Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who chaired the January 6 Committee.
The White House did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Cheney was a vocal supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris during her recent presidential bid. The former congresswoman last year predicted “millions of Republicans” would back Harris in the election.
“Donald Trump is doing everything he can to try to get people to forget about what he did on January 6,” she said in October. “When you think about that level of instability, that level of erratic decision making, the misogyny, that’s not someone that you can trust with the power of the Oval Office.”
“I would just remind people, if you’re at all concerned, you can vote your conscience and not ever have to say a word to anybody,” she added.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in December would not commit to an answer when pressed on whether the White House would issue preemptive pardons for Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“It would be a bad move on my behalf if I preempted the president or previewed anything that the president was thinking about considering and so, this is something he is going to talk with his team about and I just don’t have anything beyond that for you,” Jean-Pierre said.
That response followed Biden’s decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, after previously promising not to.
“The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg suggested in November Cheney would be a “great” attorney general under a potential Harris presidency. The suggestion came while Cheney was a guest on the daytime talk show.
Goldberg lauded Cheney for her “moral core” as the former congresswoman shook her head in response.
Follow Jackson Walker on X at @_jlwalker_ for the latest trending national news. Have a news tip? Send it to jacwalker@sbgtv.com.
According to reports, President Joe Biden is set to honor Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney with the prestigious Presidential Citizens Medal. This award is one of the highest honors a civilian can receive and is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the country and its citizens.
Cheney has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and has stood firm in her beliefs, even in the face of backlash from her own party. She has been praised for her courage and integrity in standing up for what she believes is right, even when it is not popular.
The decision to award Cheney with the Presidential Citizens Medal is seen as a bold move by President Biden, who is known for reaching across the aisle and working with members of both parties. This gesture is not only a recognition of Cheney’s service and dedication to the country but also a symbol of unity and bipartisanship in a time of deep political division.
Many are applauding the decision to honor Cheney with this prestigious award, citing her courage, integrity, and commitment to upholding democratic values. The ceremony is set to take place in the coming weeks, and it is sure to be a momentous occasion for both Cheney and the country as a whole.
President Joe Biden is bestowing the second highest civilian medal on Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, leaders of the congressional investigation into the Capitol riot who Donald Trump has said should be jailed for their roles in the inquiry.
Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 people in a ceremony Thursday 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.”
Biden last year honored people who were involved in defending the Capitol from a mob of angry Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, or who helped safeguard the will of American voters during the 2020 presidential election, when Trump tried and failed to overturn the results.
Cheney, a former Wyoming congresswoman, and Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, led the House committee that investigated the insurrection. The committee’s final report asserted that Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful results of the election he lost to Biden and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol. Thompson wrote that Trump “lit that fire.”
Cheney, who lost her seat in the GOP primary in August, later said she would vote for Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race and campaigned with the Democratic nominee, raising Trump’s ire. Biden has been considering whether to offer preemptive pardons to Cheney and others Trump has targeted.
Trump, who won the 2024 election and will take office Jan. 20, still refuses to back away from his lies about the 2020 presidential race and has said he would pardon the rioters once he is back in the White House.
During an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the president-elect said that “Cheney did something that’s inexcusable, along with Thompson and the people on the un-select committee of political thugs and, you know, creeps,” claiming without evidence they “deleted and destroyed” testimony they collected.
“Honestly, they should go to jail,” he said.
Cheney and Thompson were “an embarrassment to this country” for their conduct on the committee, Trump’s communications director Steven Cheung asserted.
Biden is also giving the award to attorney Mary Bonauto, who fought to legalize same-sex marriage, and Evan Wolfson, a leader of the marriage equality movement.
Other honorees include Frank Butler, who set new standards for using tourniquets on war injuries; Diane Carlson Evans, an Army nurse during the Vietnam War who founded the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation; and Eleanor Smeal, an activist who led women’s rights protests in the 1970s and fought for equal pay.
He’s also giving the award to photographer Bobby Sager, academics Thomas Vallely and Paula Wallace, and Frances Visco, the president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition.
Other former lawmakers being honored include former Sen. Bill Bradley, D-N.J.; former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, the first woman to represent Kansas; and former Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., who championed gun safety measures after her son and husband were shot to death.
Biden will honor four people posthumously: Joseph Galloway, a former war correspondent who wrote about the first major battle in Vietnam in the book “We Were Soldiers Once … and Young”; civil rights advocate and attorney Louis Lorenzo Redding; former Delaware judge Collins Seitz; and Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi, who was held with other Japanese Americans during World War II and challenged the detention.
The Presidential Citizens Medal was created by President Richard Nixon in 1969 and is the country’s second highest civilian honor after the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It recognizes people who “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.”
President Joe Biden has announced that he will award the prestigious Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 individuals, including Republican Representative Liz Cheney. The award is one of the highest honors a civilian can receive, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the country and their communities.
Cheney, who has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and his handling of the 2020 election, is being recognized for her courage and integrity in standing up for democracy and the rule of law. Despite facing backlash from within her own party, Cheney has remained steadfast in her commitment to upholding the Constitution and defending the integrity of the electoral process.
In a statement, President Biden praised Cheney and the other recipients of the award, saying, “These individuals represent the best of America – they are dedicated, courageous, and committed to making a positive impact on the world around them. I am honored to recognize their contributions and grateful for their service to our country.”
The Presidential Citizens Medal will be presented to Cheney and the other honorees at a ceremony later this year. Congratulations to all the recipients on this well-deserved honor! #PresidentialCitizensMedal #LizCheney #JoeBiden
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President Joe Biden plans on Thursday to announce 20 recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal.
According to the White House press release, this award is given out to Americans who “have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.”
“The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice,” the press release added.
One of the most notable recipients is former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney for her actions as the vice chair of the committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The press release said that she used her voice and reached across the aisle to defend American ideals of freedom, dignity and decency. The move comes as Cheney has faced attacks from President-elect Trump, a member of her own party, for her role in the Jan. 6 committee.
Rep. Liz Cheney speaks with ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jon Karl, Aug. 19, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
ABC News
Biden will also honor Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, who chaired the House Jan. 6 Committee.
Biden is set to honor a number of other former lawmakers including Carolyn McCarthy, Bill Bradley, Nancy Landon Kassebaum and Ted Kaufman, among others.
President Joe Biden makes a statement from Camp David, Maryland, on Jan. 1, 2025.
Chris Kleponis/AFP via Getty Images
The list also includes a number of advocates and experts. Their contributions are wide-ranging, spanning from law to healthcare to photography to education.
Biden is scheduled to present the awards to the recipients in a ceremony at the White House on Thursday.
Below is the list of recipients, along with short bios supplied by the White House.
Mary L. Bonauto
Attorney and activist Mary Bonauto first fought to legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine before arguing before the Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established marriage equality as the law of the land. Her efforts made millions of families whole and forged a more perfect Union.
Bill Bradley
Raised in small-town Missouri, Bill Bradley showed a dedication to basketball that would define his courage, discipline, and selflessness. A two-time NBA Champion and Hall-of-Fame New York Knick, he served three terms as a United States Senator from New Jersey and was a candidate for president, advancing tax reform, water rights, civil rights, and more, while still today seeking to deepen our common humanity with humility and heart.
Frank K. Butler, Jr.
As a pioneering innovator, Navy Seal, and leader in dive medicine, Dr. Frank Butler introduced Tactical Combat Casualty Care to the medical world that set new standards for tourniquet use not only for injuries in war, but injuries across daily civilian life. He has transformed battlefield trauma care for the United States military and saved countless lives.
Elizabeth L. Cheney
Throughout two decades in public service, including as a Congresswoman for Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6 attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice—and reached across the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency. Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together.
Christopher J. Dodd
Chris Dodd has served our Nation with distinction for more than 50 years as a United States Congressman, Senator, respected lawyer, and diplomat. From advancing childcare, to reforming our financial markets, to fostering partnerships across the Western Hemisphere—he has stood watch over America as a beacon to the world.
Diane Carlson Evans
After serving as an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, Diane Carlson Evans founded the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation to ensure female service members received the recognition they deserve—one of our Nation’s most sacred obligations. Her duty and devotion embody the very best of who we are as Americans.
Joseph L. Galloway
(posthumous)
From Vietnam to the Persian Gulf, Joe Galloway spent decades sharing first-hand accounts of horror, humanity, and heroism in battle. Known as the soldier’s reporter and the soldier’s friend, he embedded with American troops, rescued wounded soldiers under fire, and became the only civilian awarded a Bronze Star for combat valor by the United States Army as one of the most respected war correspondents of his era.
Nancy Landon Kassebaum
The first woman to represent Kansas, Nancy Kassebaum was a force in the United States Senate. From supporting a woman’s right to choose to reforming health care, she stood up for what she believed in even if it meant standing alone, and she reached across the aisle to do what she believed was right.
Ted Kaufman
For decades, including as a United States Senator from Delaware, Ted Kaufman has served the Nation with honesty and integrity. A master of the Senate who championed everyday Americans and public servants, he’s been at the forefront of consequential debates about the courts, the financial system, and more.
Carolyn McCarthy
As a nurse, Carolyn McCarthy had an instinct to heal and serve. When her husband and son were shot on a local commuter train, she became an advocate so persuasive that she was recruited to run for Congress. She served 18 years, championing gun safety measures including improved background checks, as a citizen legislator devoted to protecting our Nation’s welfare.
Louis Lorenzo Redding
(posthumous)
A groundbreaking civil rights advocate, Louis was the first Black attorney admitted to the bar in Delaware, where he argued against segregation in the seminal cases of Bulah v. Gebhart and Belton v. Gebhart—laying the legal framework for Brown v. Board of Education. A towering figure and a generous mentor, he opened doors of equity and opportunity for all Americans.
Bobby Sager
A Boston native, Bobby Sager travels the world as a photographer and philanthropist grounded in family and empathy, wielding his camera and influence to connect with people in war-torn countries, capture their hope and humanity, and inspire others to take action and see a fuller portrait of the planet we all share.
Collins J. Seitz
(posthumous)
As a state judge in Delaware, Judge Seitz became the first judge in America to integrate a white public school, dismantling the doctrine of “separate but equal” with exacting detail and reverence for the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of our Constitution. His brave ruling tore down walls of separation to help us see each other as fellow Americans.
Eleanor Smeal
From leading massive protests and galvanizing women’s votes in the 1970s to steering progress for equal pay and helping the Violence Against Women Act become law, Ellie Smeal forced the Nation to not only include women in political discourse but to value them as power brokers and equals. Her strategic vision over more than 40 years embodies the American pursuit to create a fairer, more just world.
Bennie G. Thompson
Born and raised in a segregated Mississippi, as a college student inspired by the Civil Rights movement, Bennie Thompson volunteered on campaigns and registered southern Black voters. That call to serve eventually led him to Congress, where he chaired the House January 6th Committee—at the forefront of defending the rule of law with unwavering integrity and a steadfast commitment to truth.
Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi
(posthumous)
In a shameful chapter in our Nation’s history, Mitsuye Endo was incarcerated alongside more than 120,000 Japanese Americans. Undaunted, she challenged the injustice and reached the Supreme Court. Her resolve allowed thousands of Japanese Americans to return home and rebuild their lives, reminding us that we are a Nation that stands for freedom for all.
Thomas J. Vallely
A United States Marine during the Vietnam War, Thomas Vallely has never given up on peace. Over the course of five decades, he has brought Vietnam and the United States together—establishing Fulbright University Vietnam, fostering greater economic and cultural exchange, and overcoming the perils of the past to seize the promise of the future. His service remains a symbol of American leadership in the world.
Frances M. Visco
As president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Fran Visco has fought tirelessly and fearlessly to increase Federal funding for breast cancer research, early detection education, and access to women’s healthcare. As a breast cancer survivor, she turned pain into purpose, changed the landscape of breast cancer advocacy, and has become a powerful symbol of hope for the Nation.
Paula S. Wallace
A lifelong educator and trailblazer of the arts, Paula Wallace dreamt of a school that would transform how we think about professional education. By establishing the esteemed Savannah College of Art and Design and serving as its president, she has guided thousands of students into creative industries.
Evan Wolfson
By leading the marriage equality movement, Evan Wolfson helped millions of people in all 50 states win the fundamental right to love, marry, and be themselves. For 32 years, starting with a visionary law school thesis, Evan Wolfson worked with singular focus and untiring optimism to change not just the law, but society—pioneering a political playbook for change and sharing its lessons, even now, with countless causes worldwide.
President Joe Biden has announced that he will be awarding the prestigious Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 recipients, including Congresswoman Liz Cheney. This award is one of the highest honors a civilian can receive, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities and the nation as a whole.
Cheney, who has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and his policies, is being recognized for her unwavering commitment to upholding democracy and the rule of law. As one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the Capitol insurrection, Cheney has shown immense courage and integrity in standing up for what she believes is right.
In addition to Cheney, the other recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal come from a diverse range of backgrounds and have all made substantial impacts in their respective fields. From activists fighting for social justice to scientists leading groundbreaking research, these individuals represent the best of America and serve as an inspiration to us all.
The ceremony to award the Presidential Citizens Medals will take place later this month, and President Biden is expected to personally present the medals to each recipient. This honor is a testament to the incredible work that these individuals have done to make our country a better place, and we congratulate them all on this well-deserved recognition.
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Joe Biden is bestowing the second highest civilian medal on the Democratic congressman, Bennie Thompson, and Republican former congresswoman Liz Cheney who led the bipartisan congressional investigation into the deadly 6 January 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol riot by Donald Trump’s supporters intent on overturning his election defeat by Biden.
Trump, who takes office again on 20 January after winning last November’s election, has said the leaders of that committee, which published its conclusions in December 2022 after a series of high-profile public hearings, should be jailed, not rewarded.
Biden, the outgoing US president, will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 people in a ceremony late on Thursday afternoon at the White House.
As well as the prominent co-chairs of that committee, other recipients include Americans who successfully fought for marriage equality for same-sex couples to become legal.
There will also be a medal for a pioneer in treating wounded soldiers, and two of the Democratic president’s longtime political allies, the Democratic former US Senators Ted Kaufman of Delaware, the state that Biden represented in the senate, and Chris Dodd of Connecticut.
“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 last year honored people who were involved in defending the US Capitol from the rioters who stormed the building on that January 6, hunting down fleeing lawmakers and invading the House chamber, which moments before had been packed for the ceremony to officially certify Biden’s win over Trump in the 2020 election, or otherwise safeguarded the election result.
Cheney, who was a Republican representative from Wyoming and is the daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney, and Thompson, a Mississippi Democratic representative, led the House committee that investigated the insurrection.
The committee’s final report asserted that Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful results of the election he lost to Biden and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol. Thompson wrote that Trump “lit that fire”.
Cheney later said she would vote for the Democratic vice-president, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 presidential race and even campaigned with her after being fiercely critical of Trump post-January 6.
Biden has been considering whether to offer pre-emptive pardons to Cheney and others Trump has targeted.
Trump 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.
During an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump said: “Cheney did something that’s inexcusable, along with Thompson and the people on the un-select committee of political thugs and, you know, creeps,” claiming without evidence they “deleted and destroyed” testimony they collected. “Honestly, they should go to jail,” he said.
Biden on Thursday is also giving the presidential award to attorney Mary Bonauto, who fought to legalize same-sex marriage, and Evan Wolfson, a leader of the marriage equality movement.
Other honorees include Frank Butler, who set new standards for using tourniquets on war injuries; Diane Carlson Evans, an army nurse during the Vietnam war who founded the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation; and Eleanor Smeal, an activist who led women’s rights protests in the 1970s and fought for equal pay.
He is also giving the award to photographer Bobby Sager, academics Thomas Vallely and Paula Wallace, and Frances Visco, the president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition.
Other former lawmakers being honored include former senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey; former senator Nancy Kassebaum, the first woman to represent Kansas; and former congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy of New York, who championed gun safety measures after her son and husband were shot to death.
Biden will honor four people posthumously: Joseph Galloway, a former war correspondent who wrote about the first major battle in Vietnam in the book We Were Soldiers Once … and Young; civil rights advocate and attorney Louis Lorenzo Redding; former Delaware state judge Collins Seitz; and Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi, who was held with other Japanese Americans during the second world war and challenged the detention.
The Presidential Citizens Medal, created by President Richard Nixon in 1969, is the country’s second highest civilian honor after the presidential medal of freedom. It is awarded to those who “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens”.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
In a recent announcement, President Joe Biden has revealed his plans to honor two prominent figures with the civilian medal for their dedication to public service and commitment to upholding democracy.
Congresswoman Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming who was recently ousted from her leadership position for speaking out against former President Donald Trump, will be recognized for her courage and integrity in standing up for what she believes is right.
Additionally, Congressman Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi who has been a strong advocate for civil rights and social justice throughout his career, will also be honored for his unwavering commitment to serving the American people.
President Biden’s decision to bestow these prestigious awards on Cheney and Thompson highlights his commitment to bipartisanship and unity in the face of political divisiveness. It serves as a reminder that, regardless of political differences, individuals who uphold democratic values and work tirelessly to protect the rights of all Americans deserve to be celebrated and recognized for their contributions.
The ceremony honoring Cheney and Thompson with the civilian medal is set to take place in the coming weeks, where they will be commended for their outstanding service to the country.
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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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President Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian award in the U.S, to 20 people on Thursday including former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson, both of whom served on the House Select Committee to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Cheney, who represented Wyoming’s at-large congressional district for three terms, was one of President-elect Donald Trump’s fiercest critics in Congress. She is among lawmakers who led the investigation whom Trump has said should be jailed. Her name has been frequently floated as a candidate for a pre-emptive pardon by Bardon.
“Cheney has raised her voice—and reached across the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency,” said the White House.
She also campaigned vigorously for Biden and, later for Vice President Kamala Harris, when she became the eventual Democratic presidential nominee.
Thompson, who represents Mississippi’s second district, was chair of the committee on Jan.6., served “at the forefront of defending the rule of law with unwavering integrity and a steadfast commitment to truth,” said the White House statement.
The 20 awards recipients include Americans who fought for marriage equality, an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, a war correspondent and longtime lawmakers who are Biden’s close friends.
The medal is awarded to citizens who have “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens,” the White House said in a statement.
“President Biden believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others,” the statement said. “The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice.”
The president is also giving the award to Mary L. Bonauto, an attorney and activist who fought to legalize same sex marriage in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine. She then argued before the Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established marriage equality as the law of the land.
Biden is also honoring his longtime friends, former Delware Sen. Ted Kaufman and former Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut.
Other award recipients include former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, two-time NBA Champion and Hall-of-Fame New York Knick; Diane Carson Evans, an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, who founded the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation to ensure female service members received the recognition they deserve and Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, the first woman to represent Kansas.
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House Correspondent for USA TODAY.You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal
In a surprising move, President Joe Biden has announced that he will be awarding the Presidential Citizens Medal to Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney. The prestigious award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the country and its citizens.
Cheney, who has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and his baseless claims of election fraud, has been praised for her courage and integrity in standing up for democracy. Despite facing backlash from within her own party, Cheney has remained steadfast in her principles and commitment to upholding the rule of law.
President Biden’s decision to award Cheney with the Presidential Citizens Medal is seen as a symbol of unity and bipartisanship in a deeply divided political landscape. By recognizing Cheney’s dedication to serving the American people and defending the Constitution, Biden is sending a message that country should come before party loyalty.
Cheney’s willingness to put country over party has earned her respect from leaders on both sides of the aisle, and the Presidential Citizens Medal is a fitting tribute to her unwavering commitment to democracy. Congratulations to Liz Cheney on this well-deserved honor.
Philip Cheney Lithograph, “Bringing in the Sap” 1939, Pencil Signed
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Philip Cheney Lithograph, “Bringing in the Sap” 1939, Pencil Signed
I recently came across a stunning lithograph by artist Philip Cheney titled “Bringing in the Sap” from 1939. This beautiful piece captures a scene of workers collecting sap from maple trees, a traditional practice in the early spring months.
What makes this lithograph even more special is that it is pencil signed by Cheney himself, adding an extra layer of authenticity and value to the piece. Cheney was known for his detailed and realistic depictions of rural life, and this artwork is a perfect example of his talent.
If you’re a fan of vintage art or have a love for rural landscapes, this lithograph would make a wonderful addition to your collection. Keep an eye out for this rare and unique piece by Philip Cheney, a true gem from the past.
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