President Joe Biden awarded Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who served as chairwoman and vice chairwoman of the now-defunct House Jan. 6 committee, with the Presidential Medal of Citizens during a ceremony at the White House on Thursday.
The medal is the second highest civilian award in the United States, behind only the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“You are elected officials who served in difficult times with honor, decency, and ensuring our democracy delivers,” Biden said as he listed descriptions of the group of recipients.
The inclusion of Thompson and Cheney on the list of honorees comes amid threats from President-elect Donald Trump to punish former members of the Jan. 6 House committee, which conducted an 18-month investigation examining their role. in the January 6, 2021 riots at the Capitol.
“I think it’s pretty simple. Our democracy begins and ends with the duties of citizenship,” Biden said during the awards ceremony. “That’s our job forever. That’s what all of you, and I mean this, all of you embody.”
One by one, an announcer read the names of each recipient, to whom Biden presented the medal. When the announcer called Cheney’s name and announced that she had been awarded “for bringing the American people to the party,” the audience erupted in loud, sustained applause that culminated in a standing ovation.
Minutes later, Thompson also received a standing ovation when he was presented with an award for “his lifelong dedication to safeguarding our Constitution,” according to the description read by the announcer.
Thompson said in a statement that he was “honored” to receive the medal, adding that he “has had an unwavering commitment to defending the Constitution and democracy.”
A representative for Cheney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The recipients made no comments during the ceremony.
In a December interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Trump said former members of the committee, which included only two Republicans: Cheney and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill. – “I should go to jail.”
In the same interview, Trump also detailed his plans to pardon rioters who have been convicted for their role in the attack on the Capitol that day.
Thompson responded to the idea that Trump could jail committee members, telling reporters at the Capitol in December that the committee did nothing “that violates the law.”
In a lengthy statement after Trump’s “Meet the Press” interview, Cheney also criticized the president-elect’s comments, saying: “Donald Trump’s suggestion that members of Congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional actions should be imprisoned is a continuation of their attack on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic.”
House Republicans have also attacked Cheney for her role on the committee. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., called for an investigation into the former congresswoman’s role in the Jan. 6 committee, alleging she engaged in witness tampering.
Thompson has also suggested that he would accept a preemptive pardon from the president before leaving office, if Biden offered one.
“Is [Biden’s] prerogative. If you offer it to me or other committee members… I would accept it, but it’s your choice,” Thompson told CNN last month.
Two sources familiar had previously told NBC News that Biden and his top advisers had discussed the possibility of issuing preemptive pardons for those who could become Trump targets in his next administration.
Thompson and Cheney are among more than a dozen Americans Biden will honor Thursday. Other recipients include former senators Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Bill Bradley of New Jersey, Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas and Ted Kaufman of Delaware.
Several veterans, marriage equality activists, women’s rights activists and civil rights advocates will also be honored.
Gabe Gutierrez, Kelly O’Donnell, Rebecca Shabad, sara dean and Megan Lebowitz contributed.
