Twelve House Republicans voted against a legislation to award congressional medals to the Capitol Police for their service on the Jan. 6.
The bill would authorize creation of three medals — one each for display at Capitol Police headquarters, the capital city’s Metropolitan Police Department headquarters and by the Smithsonian — as well as duplicates of the award, Politico reports.
The bill passed in a 413–12 vote.
Only Republican reps opposed the bill. They include, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, Arizona’s Rep. Andy Biggs, Maryland’s Rep. Andy Harris, Texas’ Rep. Lance Gooden, Florida’s Rep. Matt Gaetz, Texas’s Rep. Michael Cloud, Georgia’s Rep. Andrew Clyde, Georgia’s Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Texas’s Rep. Louie Gohmert, Florida’s Rep. Greg Steube, Virginia’s Rep. Bob Good and Tennessee’s Rep. John Rose.
“It’s just offensive that we literally log-rolled recognition of the Capitol Police,” Gaetz told reporters. “We had to combine it with these editorial comments about the January 6 sequence of events, and… logroll it with this exhibit at the Smithsonian… that was a little much for me.”
Rep. Massie said he disagreed with the description of the Capitol and worried that the “insurrection” label could be used by prosecutors.
