Biden Awards Jan. 6 Panel Leaders Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson with Nation’s Second Highest Civilian Medal
By Jake Beardslee ·
January 2, 2025
President Joe Biden will honor Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, leaders of the congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, with the Presidential Citizens Medal—the second highest civilian award in the United States. The ceremony, set to take place at the White House on Thursday, will also recognize other distinguished Americans, including marriage equality advocates, a pioneer in treating wounded soldiers, and Biden’s longtime friends, former Senators Ted Kaufman and Chris Dodd. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
“President Biden believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others,” the White House stated. “The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice.” Matt H. Wade / Wikimedia
Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming, and Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi, chaired the House Select Committee investigating the insurrection. The panel’s work scrutinized the attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump, who sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia
During an appearance on NBC’s "Meet the Press," former President Donald Trump criticized former Representative Liz Cheney, former Representative Bennie Thompson, and other members of the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump referred to them as “political thugs” and “creeps,” accusing them, without providing evidence, of having “deleted and destroyed” testimony collected during the investigation.
“Honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump added. Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia
Last year Biden similarly recognized individuals who defended the Capitol during the riots and those who helped secure the integrity of the 2020 election amid Trump’s efforts to challenge the outcome. Office of President Joe Biden / Wikimedia
Cheney, after facing political fallout within her party, notably campaigned with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and expressed support for her in the 2024 presidential election. Gary C. Klein/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Vice President Kamala Harris joined former Republican Representative Liz Cheney in Ripon, Wisconsin—the birthplace of the Republican Party—just over a month before the 2024 election in a bid to attract disillusioned conservatives.
Cheney, a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s rhetoric, urged Republicans to put “Country Over Party” by backing Harris, as she herself planned to do. While Democratic strategists welcomed Cheney’s endorsement, the move failed to resonate with GOP voters, many of whom rejected her neoconservative stance. The strategy ultimately proved counterproductive, alienating some Democrats and diverting valuable time from Harris’s tight campaign schedule. Gary C. Klein/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Reports indicate Biden is weighing whether to offer preemptive pardons to Cheney and other figures Trump has targeted. Meanwhile, Trump, poised to assume office again in 2024, has reiterated his intention to pardon the January 6 rioters upon his return to the presidency. This action heightened Trump's criticism as he continues to make unfounded claims about the 2020 election. Office of the President of the United States / Wikimedia
The Presidential Citizens Medal, established by President Richard Nixon in 1969, is the nation's second highest civilian award, following the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is given to individuals who “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.” Department of Defense. Department of the Army. Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. U.S. Army Audiovisual Center / Wikimedia
