- The House voted to give police and MPD officers medals after the January 6 riots.
- The vote passed 413 to 12. All 12 lawmakers who voted against the legislation were Republicans.
- They said they did not agree with the legislation characterizing the siege of the Capitol as an ‘uprising’.
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The House passed a bill Wednesday to honor the Capitol police officers who protected the building during riots on Jan. 6 with congressional gold medals. The vote passed 413 to 12.
Two-party legislation allowed the creation of three medals for Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department officials, who helped defend the U.S. Capitol against rioters who stormed the building.
Last month, Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman received the gold medal from Congress for his actions in leading a mob of rioters away from the Senate on January 6. The law mentions Goodman as well as the late Officer Brian Sicknick, who died from his injuries. during the siege, and two officers who died by suicide after the uprising.
Some Republicans dispute the language of the legislation, especially by referring to the events of January 6 as an ‘uprising’. All twelve votes for the legislation come from Republican lawmakers.
Rep. Florida’s Matt Gaetz described the bill as “offensive” because of the inclusion of “these editorial comments on the January 6 series”. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said he disagreed with the categorization of the riots as an ‘uprising’, and expressed concern that the label could be used by prosecutors.
Here are the 12 Republicans who voted against the legislation: