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President Biden will mark the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol with a ceremony at the White House at which he will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to 12 election officials and law enforcement officers.
Among those being honored on Friday is former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R), who refused to overturn his state’s election results in 2020 despite pressure from then-President Trump and others.
Bowers and other election officials garnered widespread national attention amid the Jan. 6 House select committee’s investigation as the panel revealed the pressure put on state officials behind the scenes by Trump allies.
The mob of Trump supporters that breached the Capitol in early 2021 sought to block Biden’s electoral victory, forcing lawmakers to be rushed to safety and then-Vice President Pence, who was presiding, to be escorted to a secure area.
Attorney General Merrick Garland has called the federal response to the riot “one of the largest, most complex, and most resource-intensive investigations in our history.”
“We remain committed to ensuring accountability for those criminally responsible for the January 6 assault on our democracy,” Garland said in a statement. “And we remain committed to doing everything in our power to prevent this from ever happening again.”
Advocates and former D.C. Police Officer Michael Fanone are marking the anniversary Friday by calling on Republicans to publicly condemn political violence.
The Jan. 6 panel released its final 840-page report last month, with key testimony from Trump administration figures and others connected to the former president. The panel recommended criminal charges against Trump.
Jan. 6 by the numbers:
950+: People arrested in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
484: Guilty pleas.
350: People the FBI continues to seek information on.
$500,000: Reward for information leading to the arrest of the still unidentified person who left pipe bombs near the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters near the Capitol.
*Figures according to Justice Department as of January 2023.
This is NotedDC, looking at the politics, policy and people behind the stories in Washington. We’re The Hill’s Amée LaTour and Liz Crisp.
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Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) announced she won’t run for reelection in 2024, a year with a tough Senate map for Dems.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) is leaving the door open to a 2024 presidential run, acknowledging he’s having conversations about a bid.
Investigators used a DNA sample on a knife sheath to link a suspect to the fatal stabbing of four University of Idaho students, according to court documents. McCarthy loses — again
On the third day of the House trying to elect a Speaker, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) again failed to muster enough votes to get a win, even after hours of haggling with the 20 Republicans who have blocked his election.
On Wednesday, Republican leaders called for an early adjournment to continue their efforts to whip votes for McCarthy, with the California Republican reportedly making several concessions to the hard-liners late in the evening.
It didn’t work.
Without a Speaker named, lawmakers could be stuck in D.C. through the weekend. The Hill’s Emily Brooks recently looked at the three main scenarios for McCarthy moving forward.
The Trump Factor: Former President Trump has been an advocate for McCarthy in the race, though his vocal support and repeated statements haven’t swayed any members to move to McCarthy. On Thursday, in the seventh round of voting, Trump himself received a vote to become the next Speaker.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who has been a staunch Trump ally as well as a ringleader behind the efforts to tank McCarthy’s chances, cast the lone vote for the former president.
The move came after Gaetz responded with disappointment to Trump’s continued support for McCarthy.
“Sad!” Gaetz said in a statement Wednesday, via Fox. “This changes neither my view of McCarthy, nor Trump, nor my vote.
