WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump will present one of the nation’s top civilian honors to two of his allies in the most outspoken Congress, California Representative Devin Nunes and Ohio Representative Jim Jordan for wanting to reward loyal with just over two weeks remaining in office.
The White House confirmed that Trump would hand Nunes the presidential medal of freedom on Monday. The former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee has been a staunch supporter of Trump during investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the removal of the president by the 2019 Democratic-led House.
In a statement, the White House credited Nunes with discovering “the biggest scandal in American history,” referring to Nunes’ efforts to discredit the election interference investigation.
U.S. intelligence agencies and several congressional committees concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the goal of increasing Trump’s candidacy. Several Trump aides and associates, including former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, were convicted or found guilty of lying to the FBI during Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. Flynn, among others, received a presidential pardon last month.
The Presidential Medal for Freedom, established by President John F. Kennedy, is intended to recognize those who have made a “particularly meritorious contribution” to national security, world peace, or “important cultural or public or private efforts.”
The award comes when Trump has been rewarding supporters with the benefits and prestige associated with his presence on numerous federal boards and advisory commissions before leaving office on January 20th.
Jordan, one of the Republican Party leaders trying to undermine confidence in the results of the 2020 presidential election won by Democrat Joe Biden, is expected to receive the award next week. The Washington Post first reported Trump’s intention to hand over the award to lawmakers.