President Biden on Wednesday awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor to the former head of Planned Parenthood in a clandestine ceremony.
Mr. Biden bestowed the honor to Cecile Richards, who was president of the nation’s leading abortion provider and a major pro-choice advocacy group from 2006 to 2018.
The ceremony was not listed on Mr. Biden’s public schedule, nor was his decision to award the medal to Ms. Richards publicly announced until after the presentation.
Members of the media were not invited to watch the ceremony, which was not live-streamed on the White House website.
In May, Mr. Biden presented the Medal of Freedom to former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Olympic champion swimmer Katie Ledecky and former Vice President Al Gore among others in a public ceremony that was both broadcast and attended by journalists.
“With absolute courage and conviction, Cecile Richards fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are — a nation of freedom,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. “Carrying her parents’ torch for justice, she’s led some of our nation’s most important civil rights causes — to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance women’s reproductive rights and equality and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote.”
Mr. Biden described Ms. Richards as “a leader of the utmost character,” who has “carved an inspiring legacy that endures in her incredible family, the countless lives she has made better and a nation seeking the light of equality, justice and freedom.”
Ms. Richards was Planned Parenthood’s most visible spokesperson for more than a decade and is the daughter of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, the last Democrat to hold that office.
Planned Parenthood has long been a lightning rod for criticism from pro-life activists, who have made cutting public funding for the group a major priority.
Although the Hyde Amendment makes it illegal for federal funds to pay for abortions, Planned Parenthood receives about a half-billion dollars in taxpayer funds, which it budgets to provide services such as contraception and cancer screenings for low-income women.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.