President Biden Honors Key Individuals in January 6 Inquiry with Presidential Citizens Medal
President Joe Biden is preparing to award the esteemed Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, the congressional leaders who played pivotal roles in the investigation into the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, which was incited by supporters of Donald Trump—who has publicly called for their imprisonment.
The medal ceremony, set to take place on Thursday at the White House, will celebrate a total of 20 honorees. These individuals include advocates for marriage equality, a pioneer in the treatment of wounded soldiers, and two of Biden’s long-time friends, former Senators Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.).
A White House statement noted, “President Biden believes these Americans exemplify fundamental decency and a commitment to serving others. Their dedication and sacrifices have significantly contributed to making our nation a better place.”
In the previous year, Biden honored individuals who were instrumental in defending the Capitol from rioters and those who upheld democratic principles during the tumultuous 2020 presidential election, which Trump attempted to overturn without success.
Cheney, a former Republican representative from Wyoming, and Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi, were at the forefront of the House investigation into the insurrection. Cheney has publicly declared her support for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming 2024 election, even joining her on the campaign trail, which has drawn Trump’s ire. Meanwhile, Biden is reportedly considering the option of granting preemptive pardons to Cheney and others targeted by Trump.
Despite winning the 2024 election and gearing up to take office on January 20, Trump continues to propagate false claims about the 2020 election results and has indicated plans to pardon the January 6 rioters upon his return to office.
In a recent interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump stated, “Cheney has committed an unforgivable act, along with Thompson and the members of the so-called select committee of political thugs and creeps,” alleging, without evidence, that they “deleted and destroyed” testimonies collected during the investigation.
He added, “They should honestly be jailed.”
In addition to Cheney and Thompson, Biden will also recognize attorney Mary Bonauto, a significant advocate for the legalization of same-sex marriage, and Evan Wolfson, a prominent figure in the marriage equality movement.
Other distinguished recipients include Frank Butler, who set new standards for tourniquets used in combat, Diane Carlson Evans, a Vietnam War nurse who founded the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation, and Eleanor Smeal, a key activist for women’s rights and equal pay during the 1970s.
Additional honorees comprise photographer Bobby Sager, academics Thomas Vallely and Paula Wallace, and Frances Visco, who leads the National Breast Cancer Coalition.
Among the former lawmakers being honored are ex-Senator Bill Bradley (D-N.J.), Nancy Kassebaum, the first female senator from Kansas, and Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.), who became a vocal advocate for gun safety following the tragic deaths of her son and husband.
Biden will also posthumously honor four individuals: Joseph Galloway, a war correspondent recognized for his coverage of the Vietnam War; civil rights attorney Louis Lorenzo Redding; former Delaware state judge Collins Seitz; and Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi, known for challenging the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
The Presidential Citizens Medal, established by President Richard Nixon in 1969, is the second-highest civilian honor in the United States, following the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is awarded to those who have “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or fellow citizens.”
