The White House press office confirmed Monday morning that President Donald Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Tulare Congressman Devin Nunes on Monday.
Citing two officials familiar with Trump’s plans, the New York Times earlier reported said that the president would honor two of his most outspoken Republican defenders in the House, Nunes and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
“Congressman Devin Nunes is a public servant of unmatched talent, unassailable integrity, and unwavering resolve. He uncovered the greatest scandal in American history,” the White House said in a news release.
The award is the nation’s highest civilian honor, meant to recognize “exceptional contributions” to national security, world peace or cultural and other “significant” endeavors. While presidents have bestowed the honor on members of Congress in the past, it has typically been granted at the end of a lawmaker’s time in public service or in recognition for an unrelated achievement.
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Nunes Stands up for Trump During Russia Probe, Impeachment
Nunes and Jordan defended Trump during the FBI’s investigation of Russian election interference and the House’s impeachment inquiry.
Both investigations uncovered wrongdoing by the president and his advisers, but Mr. Trump viewed them as partisan “witch hunts,” demanding his party rally around him to fend them off.
Nunes and Jordan took a similar approach when Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry into Trump’s attempts to pressure Ukraine to investigate now-President-elect Joe Biden.
In 2018 during an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” Trump said that Nunes ought to be awarded the Medal of Freedom or the Medal of Honor, which is reserved for military valor, based on his attempts to discredit the Russia investigation. He then amended his remarks, saying that Nunes should receive the Medal of Freedom.
List of Previous Recipients
A list of previous Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients is at this link.
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