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The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to honor Capitol police officers and others who protected the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 pro-Trump riots by 406-21.
“The desecration of the United States Capitol, the temple of our American democracy, and violence directed against Congress are atrocities that will forever stain the history of our nation,” the legislation read.
The bill provides for four gold medals in honor of first responders — one for the Capitol Police, one for the Metropolitan Police and Washington, D.C., one for the Smithsonian Institution, and one for the Architect of the Capitol.
The 21 “no” votes came from Republicans, including Andrew Clyde of Georgia, who downplayed the violence during a hearing last month.
“There was an undisciplined mob. There were some rioters and some who committed acts of vandalism. But let me make it clear: There was no rebellion, and to call it rebellion, in my opinion, a bald lie. Television footage of those who entered the Capitol and walked into the Statuary Hall showed people in a manner Organized as they stay between the stanchions and ropes and they take videos and photos.”
“You know, if you didn’t know that the TV footage was a videotape from the 6th of January, you’d actually think it was a normal tourist visit,” he added.
“No” was also voted by Paul Gosar of Arizona, who said the fatal shooting of rioter Ashley Babbitt, was a “execution,” Lauren Poubert of Colorado and Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia, who noted that January 6 was a moment “1776” before the riots.
The legislation will also honor Capitol Police Officer William Evans, who was killed in April when a knife-wielding assailant rammed his car into a security barrier at the Capitol.
Representative Chip Roy, R-Texas, said in a statement that he voted for the previous legislation honoring first responders, but voted against the new bill because Democrats were playing “political games” by quietly including Evans in the measure.
“Officer William Bailey Evans was killed and Officer Kenneth Schaeffer was wounded by a man obsessed with the Nation of Islam,” Roy said.
“Since this incident does not fit the left’s narrative, Democrats and the media have been silent about this attack. I will always support the color blue and recognize the courage of law enforcement – they are true American heroes. However, I will not condone this apparent political maneuver by Democrats.”
The accompanying legislation was also unveiled in the Senate by Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota, and Roy Blunt, R-Mo.
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