Trump To Award Devin Nunes, Top Russia Probe Critic, Presidential Medal Of Freedom

President Donald Trump will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Monday to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), a prominent critic of the Justice Departments investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, was one of Trumps loudest cheerleaders in his efforts to undermine the Russia probe led by then-special counsel Robert Mueller.

Congressman Nunes pursued the Russia Hoax at great personal risk and never stopped standing up for the truth, the White House said Monday in a statement announcing the award, the countrys highest civilian honor.

WH statement on Nunes getting Medal of Freedom today is a doozy: \"Nunes pursued the Russia Hoax at great personal risk & never stopped standing up for the truth. He had the fortitude to take on the media, the FBI, the Intelligence Community, the Democrat Party, foreign spies...\" pic.twitter.com/HqMpX6ZH9T

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WH statement on Nunes getting Medal of Freedom today is a doozy: "Nunes pursued the Russia Hoax at great personal risk & never stopped standing up for the truth. He had the fortitude to take on the media, the FBI, the Intelligence Community, the Democrat Party, foreign spies..." pic.twitter.com/HqMpX6ZH9T
Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 4, 2021

During an interview on Fox & Friends in October 2018, Trump suggested that Nunes deserved the medal for his fight against the Russia probe.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), another one of Trumps political allies, is also expected to receive the prestigious award, The Washington Post reported Sunday. Both Jordan and Nunes have defended Trump through his presidency and during his impeachment.

Last month, Jordan called for a congressional investigation into the integrity of the 2020 election that Trump lost.

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Trump still has not conceded the election to President-elect Joe Biden . However, during his final weeks in office, he has granted a slew of presidential pardons to friends, family members and other allies.

Hayley Miller contributed reporting.