Donald Trump

White House Presents Medals of Valor to GOP Baseball Shooting First Responders

President Donald Trump has presented the Medal of Valor to five of the first responders injured in a shooting on a congressional baseball practice last month.

The three Alexandria, Virginia, police officers and the two U.S. Capitol police officers received a standing ovation when they entered the East Room at the White House on Thursday.

"These officers saved the lives of every innocent person who was on the field that day," Trump said before presenting the officers' medals. He praised the officers who sustained injuries as they "raced through the bullets" to take down the gunman.

Medals were awarded to Special Agents David Bailey and Crystal Griner of the Capitol Police and Officers Nicole Battaglia, Kevin Jobe and Alexander Jensen of the Alexandria Police Department.

Congressional Republicans were practicing for their annual charity baseball game against Democrats when a gunman started shooting. U.S. Capitol Police and other officers returned fire and killed the 66-year-old gunman, later identified as James T. Hodgkinson of Illinois.

Scalise, R-La., who was gravely wounded in the shooting, was released from MedStar Washington Hospital Center Tuesday and now will begin intensive inpatient rehabilitation, the hospital said in a statement Wednesday morning.

"He is in good spirits and is looking forward to his return to work once he completes rehabilitation," the hospital said.

Scalise released a statement Thursday to congratulate the officers for receiving the "highest national award a public safety officer can receive."

"The Medal of Valor...is given to those who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, to save or protect human life. I cannot think of a group of individuals more deserving of this award," Scalise said.

The Majority Whip was one of four people shot and wounded by Hodgkinson, who the FBI says was under "financial and mental" stress and held a deep animus toward President Donald Trump and other Republicans.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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