Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 people in a ceremony Thursday at the White House, including Americans who fought for marriage equality, a pioneer in treating wounded soldiers, and two of the president's longtime friends, former Sens. Ted Kaufman, D-Del., and Chris Dodd, D-Conn.
“President Biden believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others,” the White House said in a statement. “The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice.”
Cheney, who was a Republican representative from Wyoming, was hand-picked by then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to sit on the committee after she broke with long-standing House procedure which allows the opposing party to choose their reps for committees. Cheney, who has long been a critic of Donald Trump, lost her bid to be re-elected in Wyoming and later said she would vote for Kamala Harris.
During an interview with NBC, Trump said “Cheney did something that’s inexcusable, along with Thompson and the people on the un-select committee of political thugs and, you know, creeps," claiming without evidence they “deleted and destroyed” testimony they collected.
“Honestly, they should go to jail,” he said.
Biden has been considering whether to offer preemptive pardons to Cheney and others.
Biden is also giving the award to attorney Mary Bonauto, who fought to legalize same-sex marriage, and Evan Wolfson, a leader of the marriage equality movement.
