A maskless Lindsey Graham allegedly screamed at a Capitol police officer during the siege on Congress last Wednesday, saying law enforcement officials did not do enough to protect politicians from President Trump's MAGA mob.
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick announced Monday night that he will not receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, saying 'remaining true to the people, team and country I love outweigh the benefits of any individual award'.
The six-time Super Bowl-winning coach, who is a longtime friend of President Donald Trump, said he was invited to Washington D.C. to receive the esteemed award over a week ago, but the deadly siege that unfolded on Wednesday where a Trump-inspired mob stormed into the Capitol building changed his mind.
'Recently, I was offered the opportunity to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which I was flattered by out of respect for what the honor represents and admiration for prior recipients,' the 68-year-old coach said in a statement, which was forwarded to The Associated Press by the team.
'Subsequently, the tragic events of last week occurred and the decision has been made not to move forward with the award. Above all, I am an American citizen with great reverence for our nation's values, freedom and democracy. I know I also represent my family and the New England Patriots team.'
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick announced Monday night that he will not receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, saying 'remaining true to the people, team and country I love outweigh the benefits of any individual award'. President Donald Trump and Bill Belichick, who are said to be longtime friends, are pictured in this April 2017 following the New England Patriot's Super Bowl victory
'The tragic events of last week occurred and the decision has been made not to move forward with the award,' Belichick said in a statement referring to the MAGA riot at the Capitol on January 6. The sea of Trump supporters storming into the Capitol, climbing on top of one another, and clashing with police as Congress convened to certify the election results pictured above
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are seen above after the Patriots defeat the Rams 13-3 during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia
Though the statement did not mention Trump by name, it was a scalding rebuke of the president's handling of the violent protest that left five dead.
On Wednesday Trump shared an impassioned speech before a sea of his supporters urging them to take the Capitol as Congress held a historic joint-session to certify the presidential election.
Trump was outraged that his claims of election fraud, which had been disproved, went unheeded and Vice President Mike Pence said he wouldn't contest the results.
A view of Belichick's statement in full above
Although he describes himself as apolitical, Belichick wrote Trump a glowing letter during the 2016 presidential campaign that the candidate read it aloud at a rally in the days before the election.
In the letter he praised Trump's courage and leadership.
'I think anybody that’s spent more than five minutes with me knows I’m not a political person. My comments aren’t politically motivated,' Belichick said in 2016.
'I have a friendship and a loyalty to Donald,' he added at the time.
Belichick and the Patriots made a visit to the White House in 2017 to celebrate their Super Bowl victory. The team noticeably did not stop by again following their 2019 victory.
In 2018 Belichick was named to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
Robert Kraft, owner of the Patriots, is also friendly with Trump. Kraft pictured with Trump before a Patriots gave at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts in October, 21, 2012
White House senior advisor Jared Kushner talks with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft as they stand behind U.S. President Donald Trump as he speaks during a Hanukkah reception in December 2019
However, their relationship may have frayed over the course of Trump's tumultuous presidency.
Trump has also had a long-running fight with the National Football League over players kneeling during the national anthem. Trump has slammed the knee protest as disgraceful, when it's meant to decry police brutality against black people and racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick yells from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Inglewood, California in this December 2020 photo
Trump is also friends with the owner of the Patriots Robert Kraft, who was embroiled in a human trafficking scandal in 2019.
Before his presidency Trump was often seen at Patriots games and had golfed with the team's former star quarterback Tom Brady.
The president has been under fire since the Wednesday protest and Congress members have escalated efforts to impeach him yet again, even as his days left in office are numbered.
Trump appears to be putting on a show of normalcy by handing out the medals in his last few days at the helm.
On Monday he reportedly met with Vice President Mike Pence for the first time since the riot in a bid to repair their deeply-damaged relationship, which had been shredded by Wednesday's chaos.
Trump announced on Saturday that he would be awarding Belichick the nation's highest civilian honor this week as part of a late flurry of presentations that also included three golfers: Annika Sorenstam, Gary Player and the late Babe Zaharias.
Sorenstam and Player accepted their awards in a private ceremony the day after the Capitol riot and both faced backlash for associating with the president in the wake of the siege.
Trump and Belichick have known each other for several years. At Trump's New Hampshire rally in the run up to the 2016 election, he even read a letter of praise from Belichick
President Donald Trump is presented a New England Patriots helmet and jersey from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, left, during a ceremony where he honored the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots for their Super Bowl LI victory at the White House in April 2017
Bill Belichick, head coach of the 2017 Super Bowl Champions the New England Patriots, spekas during a ceremony following the team's victory at the White House in April 2017
Trump has selected a string of sports figures and political backers for the award of late. He has often held grand presentation ceremonies for the award, but recent ceremonies have taken place in private. Trump has generally avoided the press since his election loss.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is only awarded an average of 11 times per year.
It recognizes those who have made 'an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.'
Belichick is undoubtedly one of the most successful football coaches in NFL history and owns the most wins among active coaches.
Trump on Wednesday told his followers to 'fight' to 'persuade' Pence to block Biden's election
A mass of Trump supporters left his rally on Wednesday and headed straight for the Capitol
In Wednesday's riot 1,400 Capitol Police officers on duty were outnumbered by an army of 8,000 pro-Trump demonstrators breaking into the Capitol
Chaos at the Capitol: A view of Pro-Trump protesters storming the capitol building on Wednesday after Trump urged his followers to oppose Congress' certification of the election results
A view of Trump supporters including Jacob Anthony Chansley (in fur hat) who was arrested Saturday and charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds
A view of MAGA rioters at the capitol above on Wednesday carrying pro-Trump signs and flags to protest Joe Biden being certified as the winner of the presidential election
The 68-year-old just completed his 46th NFL season and 21st year as Patriots coach - leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships.
The Bill Belichick Foundation also provides scholarship and grant funds to help underprivileged youth participate in sports programs.
After Belichick was nominated the award, he faced calls to decline it.
Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, of Massachusetts, said accepting it would be 'disgraceful'.
Sen. Edward J. Markey also said Belichick should turn down the award.
The 68-year-old just completed his 46th NFL season and 21st year as Patriots coach - leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships
Trump is close to the Patriots football team. Before his presidency Trump was often seen at Patriots games and had golfed with the team's former star quarterback Tom Brady (left and Belichick right). Trump is also friends with the owner of the Patriots Robert Kraft, who was embroiled in a human trafficking scandal in 2019
'That could be the day that Donald Trump is being impeached in the United States House of Representatives for inciting an insurgency against the United States,' Markey said to Boston Public Radio.
Sports organizations and teams that have long supported Trump have been trying to sever ties in the last days of his presidency.
Late Sunday the PGA of America pulled the famous 2022 PGA Championship from the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
The organization’s president Jim Richerson said: 'It has become clear that conducting the PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster would be detrimental to the PGA of America brand.'
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