Three Republican Congressmen from Texas vote against honoring the US Capitol Police.

Three Texas congressmen voted Wednesday against a resolution honoring the United States Capitol Police for their efforts to protect members of both houses amid a violent insurrection on January 6.

United States Republican Representatives Michael Cloud of Victoria, Louie Gohmert of Tyler, and Lance Gooden of Terrell voted against a resolution that awarded Congressional gold medals, the “highest expression of national recognition from the legislative chamber for accomplishments and contributions. distinguished “, to the members of the police of the Capitol. force. The bipartisan resolution passed 413-12.

A Politico report from the previous Wednesday stated that Trump’s allies in Congress attempted to “erase references to the insurrection” from the resolution. Before the vote, Gohmert a diluted resolution had circulated It did not mention the attack and sought to distance the deaths of officers Brian Sicknick and Jeffrey Smith from the date of January 6 because both died in the following days. Authorities recently charged two suspected rioters with assaulting Sicknick with a chemical spray, but it is unknown whether that exposure caused his death. Smith died by suicide several days later.

Gohmert issued a statement before the vote.

“HR 1085 does not honor anyone, but seeks to advance a narrative that is not supported by known facts,” he said. “We definitely want to show our gratitude and respect for the US Capitol Police, so I removed the false and politicized narrative to come up with legislation that truly honors those who selflessly serve us in Congress.”

Cloud said he also disagreed with the language used in the bill.

“I have always supported our courageous law enforcement and still do, but this bill was not really about that despite its name,” he said in a statement. On January 6, spokeswoman Pelosi included harmful language that unnecessarily weighs the bill. The text refers to the Capitol as the temple of democracy; in short, it is not a temple and Congress should not refer to it as such. The federal government is not a god. “

Gooden did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

US Republican Representatives Jodey Arrington of Lubbock and Kevin Brady of Woodlands did not vote, but 30 other members of the Texas House, including Democrats and Republicans, backed the resolution.

The resolution designating the honor was sponsored by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who was the specific target of the attackers and is the third in the line of presidential succession.

The legislation established that “on January 6, 2021, a mob of insurgents forced their way into the United States Capitol building and the congressional office buildings and participated in acts of vandalism, looting and violent attacks on agents of the Capitol Police “.

“The sacrifice of heroes, including Capitol Police Officers Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, Metropolitan Police Department Officer Jeffrey Smith and those who sustained injuries, and the courage of Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, exemplify patriotism and the commitment of Capitol Police officers, and those of other law enforcement agencies, to risk their lives in the service of our country, “the speaker wrote.

The events of that day, in which a mob attacked the legislature in an unsuccessful attempt to block the certification of the results of the 2020 elections, are burned into the minds of many members and resulted in the second impeachment of the former President Donald Trump for his government incitement role. crowd. But in recent weeks, the most ardent supporters of Trump’s Congress have tried to downplay the severity of the unrest.

Several members of Texas prepared for street hand-to-hand combat that day, but were able to escape to safety thanks to police and successful barricades.

“All I had was a baseball bat to protect myself and my staff,” US Rep. Michael McCaul, an Austin Republican who backed Wednesday’s resolution, reminded the Tribune last month. “We hear them trying to break down the door and then we hear the Capitol police show up. There was a bloody exchange and then they left. “

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