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President Joe Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), recognizing their leadership in the congressional investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second-highest civilian honor a president can bestow, honoring individuals who have performed exemplary deeds of service to their country or fellow citizens.
In a statement, the White House said, “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.”
Cheney and Thompson played central roles as vice-chair and chair, respectively, of the House committee that examined the Capitol riot and former President Donald Trump’s actions before and during the attack. Their work led the committee to recommend criminal charges against Trump, including obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Cheney, one of only two Republicans on the panel, faced significant political backlash, losing her re-election bid after voting to impeach Trump in 2021.
President-elect Trump, who takes office on January 20, has criticized the committee’s findings and pledged to pardon some individuals convicted for their roles in the insurrection. He has frequently attacked Cheney on social media, accusing her of partisan motives.
Biden will also honor 18 other individuals, including civil rights leaders, advocates, and public servants, at the ceremony. Among the recipients are Diane Carlson Evans, founder of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation, and Dr. Frank Butler, Jr., who revolutionized battlefield trauma care through Tactical Combat Casualty Care. Longtime Biden allies, former Senators Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), and Bill Bradley, a former senator, NBA star, and presidential candidate, will also receive the medal.
The ceremony follows last year’s awards, where Biden honored 14 individuals for their roles in safeguarding the 2020 election and protecting the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack.
By recognizing Cheney, Thompson, and others, Biden underscores his administration’s commitment to bipartisan efforts to protect democracy and uphold the rule of law. The awards reflect his focus on unity, public service, and honoring those who safeguard American values.
