Biden, Congress honor Jan. 6 heroes as investigations into Capitol attack continue

WASHINGTON – Two years after rioters stormed the Capitol to try to overturn the results of the 2020 election, President Joe Biden honored 14 people who he said did not flinch when democracy was in peril.

Biden bestowed the nation's second highest civilian honor on police officers, election workers and public officials at a White House ceremony.

"History will remember your names. They will remember your courage. They will remember your bravery," Biden said. "They will remember your extraordinary commitment to your fellow Americans."

It was the highest profile event recognizing the anniversary of the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, that continues to reverberate in party divisions in Congress, the debate over the next House speaker and the campaign for the next president in 2024.

Latest developments:

• The families of officers who lost their lives in connection with the Jan. 6 attack read their names at a brief ceremony on the House steps organized by Democratic leaders.

• Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called for a 140-second moment of silence to acknowledge the 140 officers who were seriously injured defending the Capitol.

• Investigations related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack remain a "priority" for the FBI.

• Jury selection is expected to end early next week in the trail of leaders of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys. They’re charged with plotting to incite and partake in the Jan. 6 riot to halt certification of Biden's 2020 election win.

• Military veterans have called on House Republicans to publicly condemn political violence.

Biden hosts Jan. 6 ceremony

Biden honored a "remarkable group of Americans" at a White House ceremony Friday .

"America owes you all," he said.

The 14 law enforcement officers, election workers and public officials received the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian honor in the U.S. Several of the recipients testified before the House committee that investigated the attack, including Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, former Arizona Republican House Speaker Rusty Bowers and several police officers.

U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who died in the aftermath of the Capitol attack, was  honored posthumously. Two other officers – Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood and Metro Police Officer Jeffrey Smith, who died by suicide days after the riot – were also honored.

Biden marked the one-year anniversary of the Capitol attack with a speech in the Capitol's Statuary Hall that criticized former President Donald Trump for his purported role in the riot. "I will defend this nation and allow no one to place a dagger at the throat of democracy," Biden said a year ago.

– Ella Lee and Maureen

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Fallen officers remembered at Capitol ceremony

The families of officers who lost their lives in connection with the Jan. 6 attack joined House Democrats at a brief anniversary ceremony on the House steps Friday morning.

“We stand here today with our Democracy intact because of those officers,” said incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. He called for a 140-second moment of silence to acknowledge the 140 members of law enforcement who were seriously injured defending the Capitol.

After family members read the names of the fallen officers, a military official rang a bell after each name.

– Maureen Groppe

AG Merrick Garland: 'Our work is far from over'

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday lauded Department of Justice employees investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack and prosecuting rioters, calling the effort "one of the largest, most complex, and most resource-intensive investigations in our history" and promising the Justice Department's work is "far from over."

“We remain committed to ensuring accountability for those criminally responsible for the January 6 assault on our democracy," Garland said in the statement. "And we remain committed to doing everything in our power to prevent this from ever happening again.”

- Ella Lee

Related: Two years since the Jan. 6 insurrection, extremist groups are fragmented, but live on

Ex-officer Fanone, veterans urge GOP House leaders to shun political violence

Dozens of military veterans on Wednesday hand-delivered letters to top Republicans in the House, calling on them to publicly condemn political violence as the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol approached.

Former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone wrote the letter, which was signed by more than 1,000 military veterans, active duty members, law enforcement officers and military families.

– Associated Press

Jan. 6 Capitol attack 2 years later: Trump still plagued by multiple investigations

Proud Boys sedition trial underway

Across the street from the U.S. Capitol, two years ago besieged by a violent mob, leaders of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys face trial for allegedly plotting to incite and partake in the riot in an effort to halt the certification of President Joe Biden's 2020 election win.

Jury selection is expected to end early next week, with opening remarks likely beginning on Tuesday.

– Ella Lee

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FBI: Jan. 6 investigations remain a 'priority'

Investigations related to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack remain a "priority" for the FBI, the agency's Washington field office said Wednesday.

"As we approach two years since the attack on the Capitol, the FBI and our partners’ investigative work continues to unfold across the country, resulting in significant judicial outcomes," said David Sundberg, head of the FBI's Washington office. "In the months and years to come, the FBI Washington Field Office will continue to partner with U.S. attorney’s offices across the country to bring to justice those who attempted to use violence to substitute their will over the will of the people."

The office cited the seditious conspiracy convictions of two Oath Keepers, a right-wing militia group, as one of the "most significant judicial outcomes" to date.

- Ella Lee

House Jan. 6 panel officially axed

Days before the two year anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, the House committee that spent 18 months investigating that day has been officially terminated, according to congressional records.

The panel released its highly anticipated final report on Dec. 23, which detailed former President Donald Trump's efforts to maintain power after losing the 2020 presidential election.

- Ella Lee

Photo gallery: Marking second anniversary of January 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jan. 6 anniversary: Full coverage of tributes to deadly Capitol attack