Barrasso criticizes Cheney over the Presidential Citizens Award

President Joe Biden naming former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as one of 20 recipients of the Presidential Citizens Award is already drawing backlash from her home state senator.

GOP Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, in a statement, said Biden “was either going to pardon Liz Cheney or give her an award. She doesn’t deserve either. She represents partisanship and divisiveness — not Wyoming.”

Barrasso is set to become the Senate GOP whip.

Biden on Thursday announced he would award Cheney, an outspoken critic of President-elect Donald Trump, and 19 others with the Presidential Citizens Award, which honors people who have performed “exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.”

In the announcement, Biden highlighted Cheney’s role as chair and vice chair of the House Jan. 6 committee, which concluded that Trump poses a danger to democracy. Biden also named Rep. Bernie Thompson (D-Miss.), who was chair of the House Jan. 6 committee, as a Presidential Citizens Award recipient.

Cheney’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.