Biden lauds 'heroes' of Jan. 6 attacks on second anniversary - Reuters.com

WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden marked the 2nd day of the deadly onslaught connected the U.S. Capitol connected Friday by awarding the "Presidential Citizens Medal" to 14 people, immoderate posthumously, who battled to support America's ideology aft the 2020 election.

In a White House ceremony, Biden, a Democrat, described the unit that injured 140 constabulary arsenic "fueled by lies" and the radical being honored arsenic "heroes."

As helium spoke, Republicans, galore of them loyal to erstwhile President Donald Trump who pushed the mendacious predetermination claims, struggled for a 4th consecutive time to elite a talker of the House of Representatives.

"All of it was fueled by lies astir the 2020 election, but connected this time 2 years agone our ideology held due to the fact that 'We the People' ... did not flinch," Biden said.

"History volition retrieve your names. They’ll retrieve your courage. They’ll retrieve your bravery. They’ll retrieve your bonzer commitments to your chap Americans. That’s not hyperbole, that’s a fact," helium said.

Along with respective members of instrumentality enforcement, the honorees included erstwhile Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who resisted unit to overturn the 2020 predetermination results successful their states; Capitol Police serviceman Eugene Goodman, who diverted rioters from the Senate level portion lawmakers were evacuating; and Georgia predetermination idiosyncratic Ruby Freeman, who Trump falsely accused of predetermination fraud.

The White House connected Friday added 2 names to the list, some of whom took their ain lives successful the aftermath of Jan. 6, U.S. Capitol Police serviceman Howard Liebengood and Washington constabulary serviceman Jeffrey Smith.

Freeman was forced to flee her home past twelvemonth aft decease threats from aggravated Trump supporters. Trump connected Wednesday targeted Freeman by sanction again to his astir 5 cardinal followers connected his societal media platform.

Biden said Freeman and others fought backmost against "predators and peddlers of lies" astir the 2020 election.

CONTRAST WITH TRUMP

Trump supporters attacked police, broke done barricades and entered the Capitol connected Jan. 6, 2021, successful a failed effort to forestall legislature certification of Biden's 2020 predetermination victory.

Trump, who has announced a 3rd bid for the presidency, successful 2024, had pressured his vice president, Mike Pence, to not certify the vote, and helium continues to assertion falsely that the 2020 predetermination was stolen from him done wide fraud.

The White House lawsuit gave Biden different accidental to condemn the acts of unit 2 years agone and raise concerns astir the threats to U.S. ideology by Trump and radical inspired by him. The inability of Republicans truthful acold this week to elite a House speaker, aft winning power of the enclosure successful the November midterm elections, has hinged connected a hardline group of mostly Trump-supporting lawmakers, galore of whom backed his predetermination fraud claims.

The combat to prime a House person has raised questions astir the capableness of Republicans to govern with a slim bulk successful the House. Biden has called the talker predetermination play embarrassing.

Biden provided different opposition with bickering House Republicans during a associated appearance with Senate Republican person Mitch McConnell connected Wednesday successful Kentucky successful a show of bipartisanship. Democrats narrowly power the U.S. Senate.

Shortly earlier the 2021 rampage, Trump, successful his waning days arsenic president, delivered a code adjacent the White House urging his supporters to march connected the Capitol. Five radical died successful the ensuing riot and much than 140 constabulary officers were injured. A U.S. House sheet investigating the onslaught said past period that Trump should look transgression charges for his relation successful provoking the violence.

'INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT'

Capitol Police serviceman Brian Sicknick, who died successful the days pursuing the onslaught connected the Capitol, was awarded a posthumous medal. Washington's main aesculapian examiner ruled that Sicknick died of earthy causes pursuing aggregate strokes aft the onslaught connected the Capitol. His parents, Charles and Gladys Sicknick, accepted the grant connected his behalf. Biden held Gladys Sicknick's manus arsenic the citation astir her lad was read.

"This is warranted, and successful immoderate senses overdue, but besides incredibly hard for the families, and peculiarly the families of those who mislaid a leader defending our democracy," Biden said successful the White House East Room, which was packed with household and friends of those being honored.

Other awardees included Harry Dunn, Caroline Edwards, Michael Fanone, Aquilino Gonell and Daniel Hodges, each members of instrumentality enforcement who defended the Capitol connected the time of the attack.

Shaye Moss, an predetermination idiosyncratic from Fulton Country, Georgia, and Al Schmidt, who was a metropolis commissioner connected the Philadelphia County Board of Elections, besides received awards.

Reporting by Jeff Mason; further reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Heather Timmons, Diane Craft and Leslie Adler

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