The US Senate on Tuesday agreed to award Congressional Gold Medals to police officers who fought rioters at the Capitol on January 6, the day after authorities disclosed that two more of those officers had died by suicide.
If approved by President Joe Biden as expected, the honour would go to members of the Capitol Police and Washington, DC's Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who fought against a mob of hundreds of Donald Trump supporters attempting to overturn his election defeat.
“Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal is a way to commemorate their sacrifice and make sure that the truth of January 6 is recognised and remembered forever,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on the chamber's floor.
While introducing the legislation, Amy Klobuchar said children of the future will be able to walk by and see the medals in the Smithsonian Institution and their parents will tell them: “This happened, this attack happened.”
Authorities on Monday said two more police officers who responded to the January 6 riot had died by suicide, bringing to four the number of known suicides by officers who guarded the building that day.
MPD Officer Gunther Hashida was found dead in his home last week and another MPD officer who responded on January 6, Kyle DeFreytag, was found dead on July 10.
Mr Biden commemorated the two officers whose suicides were recently disclosed, saying in a Twitter post: “They were American heroes.”
Hundreds of Trump had supporters stormed the Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to stop Congress from certifying Mr Biden's election win. Four people died on the day of the violence.
Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick who had been attacked by protesters died the following day.
More than 100 police officers were injured and the mayhem led to Mr Trump's second impeachment trial.
More than 500 people have been arrested for their roles in the violence.
During an emotional hearing last week, four police officers told a House of Representatives special committee that they were beaten, threatened, taunted with racial insults and thought they might die as they struggled to defend the Capitol against the mob.
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An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of former president Donald Trump gather in front of the US Capitol Building in Washington, US, January 6, 2021. Reuters -
A supporter of US President Donald J. Trump sits on the desk of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after supporters of US President Donald J. Trump breached the US Capitol security in Washington. EPA -
Police detain a person as supporters of US President Donald Trump protest outside the US Capitol. AFP -
Protesters enter the US Capitol Building. AFP -
A protester holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol Building near the Senate Chamber. AFP -
US Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
Members of congress run for cover as protesters try to enter the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP -
Congress staffers barricade themselves after Trump supporters stormed inside the US Capitol. AFP -
Congress staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police Swat teams check everyone in the room as they secure the floor of Trump supporters. AFP -
US Capitol Police stand detain protesters outside of the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress. AFP -
A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits at a desk after invading the Capitol Building. AFP -
A protester sits in the Senate Chamber. AFP -
Pro-Trump protesters tear down a barricade as they clash with Capitol police during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. Reuters -
Police hold back supporters of US President Donald Trump as they gather outside the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump enter the US Capitol's Rotunda. AFP -
A protester is seen hanging from the balcony in the Senate Chamber. AFP -
Riot police prepare to move demonstrators away from the US Capitol. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces, as they storm the US Capitol. AFP -
A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask as he protests after storming the US Capitol. AFP -
Pro-Trump supporters storm the US Capitol following a rally. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol. AFP -
US President Donald Trump is seen on TV from a video message released on Twitter addressing rioters at the US Capitol, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP -
Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP -
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest in the US Capitol Rotunda. AFP -
Paramedics perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a patient. AFP -
A wounded protester is carried on barricade as demonstrators breach the US Capital building grounds. Bloomberg -
US Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol earlier in the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. EPA -
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of the morning, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington. AP
