On the second anniversary of the Capitol riot, President Joe Biden will present the Presidential Citizens Medal to a dozen election workers, officials, and law enforcement officers for “contributions to our democracy” before and during the riot, according to a White House official.
“These 12 heroes demonstrated courage and selflessness during a moment of peril for our nation,” the official said.
Former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, a Republican who resisted pressure from then-President Donald Trump and his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to hold a legislative hearing on voter fraud allegations and have the state Legislature appoint an alternate slate of electors, is among those set to receive the medal — the country’s second highest civilian honor.
Other recipients of the medal include Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Al Schmidt, the former vice chair of the Philadelphia Board of Elections.
Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the mother and daughter Georgia election workers who were targeted with racist death threats after Giuliani and Trump amplified debunked conspiracy theories accusing them of vote rigging in the weeks following the 2020 election, will also receive medals from Biden.
Trump has continued to make false accusations against the couple, including in posts on his social media site earlier this week.
Several Capitol Police officers who defended the Capitol also received awards, including Eugene Goodman, who drew rioters away from the Senate floor while members were still evacuating, Caroline Edwards, who is thought to be the first officer injured in the attack, Harry Dunn, who was slammed with racial slurs while defending the building, and Aquilino Gonell, who resigned last month citing the trauma he suffered in the attack.
Former D.C. Metropolitan Police officer Michael Fanone, who suffered a heart attack and traumatic brain injury as a result of the attack, is also set to receive the medal, which is given to people who have “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.”
According to the official, Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges, who was “crushed” by protesters in a tunnel leading to the Capitol, will also receive the medal.
Biden is also honouring Brian Sicknick, a Capitol Police officer who died the day after the riot after suffering two strokes.
