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Trump to Award Retiring Orrin G. Hatch Presidential Medal of Freedom

Mitt Romney won retiring Utah senator’s seat

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
By John T. Bennett
Posted November 10, 2018 at 10:43am

Donald Trump will award retiring Sen. Orrin G. Hatch the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House announced Saturday.

The Utah Republican is among a group selected for the honor that includes late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, rock music legend Elvis Presley, former NFL star quarterback Roger Staubach, baseball legend Babe Ruth and others.

Hatch “sponsored more bills that have become law than any other living member of Congress,” the White House said in a statement.

“He has led the way in confirming qualified judges throughout the federal judiciary in order to protect our constitutional order, and has championed religious liberty, fought against communism, and stood on the side of freedom around the world,” the White House said.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for president in 2012, easily won a race Tuesday to replace Hatch in the Senate.

Watch: Hatch and Alexander Play Piano, Discuss Songwriting Legislation

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