12 Home Republicans Vote Towards Invoice Awarding Congressional Medals to Police for Defending the Capitol on Jan. 6

Several House Republicans continued their struggle, calling the January 6 attack on the US Capitol a riot, attempted coup and domestic terrorism. They refused to endorse legislation that awarded the Capitol Police and other officials three gold medals that day for defending lawmakers and democracy.

The vote was 413-12. The only representatives who did not vote were also Republicans; five did not vote.

“On January 6, 2021, a group of insurgents broke into the US Capitol and the offices of Congress and vandalized, looted and violently attacked Capitol police officers,” the bill reads in part.

413-12: House passed bill that awarded the U.S. Capitol Police and those protecting the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, three gold medals in Congress. Bill is going to the Senate now. https://t.co/bXLxZVFRAJ pic.twitter.com/ZOMJgzWDOV

– Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) March 17, 2021

The “QAnon Congresswoman” Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia and representatives Louie Gohmert, Andy Biggs, Andy Harris, Lance Gooden, Michael Cloud, Andrew Clyde, Bob Good, Greg Steube and John Rose voted against the bill.

On the far right, MAGA acolyte Matt Gaetz from Florida also voted against the bill.

“It’s just insulting that we literally recorded the Capitol Police’s approval,” the Florida Republican told reporters. “We had to combine it with these editorial comments about the sequence of events on January 6th and … log it with this exhibit at the Smithsonian … that was a bit much for me.”

Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie also commented on his no.

“I have a problem with the term ‘insurrection’,” said Massie as the reason for voting against the bill. “It could have an impact on someone’s law enforcement.”

He also questioned this part of the bill: “The desecration of the US Capitol, which is the temple of our American democracy, and the violence against Congress are horrors that affect 6
ever taint the history of our nation. “