<p>Q    On another petition question.  Is the President aware of that petition that seeks to strip Bill Cosby of his Presidential Medal of Freedom?  And if so, would he feel that it’s a worthwhile thing to at least look into?
</p><p>MR. EARNEST:  I got asked about this yesterday.  I'm not aware of the specific petition.  I know that there had been a news release that had been generated on it.  And at this point, I don’t have any specific reaction to it other than to remind you, as I did yesterday, of the priority that this administration has placed on trying to counter sexual assault wherever it occurs, including in our military and on college campuses.
</p><p>Q    Did you find out if it was legal or not?
</p><p>Q    Do you know if the President’s aware of it? 
</p><p>MR. EARNEST:  Go ahead.  I’ll come back to you.
</p><p>Q    You don’t know if the President’s aware of that effort?
</p><p>MR. EARNEST:  I don’t know if he’s aware of that specific effort.
</p><p>...
</p><p>All right, Jim.
</p><p>Q    I was just going to follow up -- we’re you able to find out whether it was legal for the President to revoke a Medal of Freedom?
</p><p>MR. EARNEST:  The only thing that I’ve been able to find out is that -- and I say this with not complete certainty -- but based on what we’ve looked at, the Presidential Medal of Freedom has not been revoked before.  But I don’t know at this point whether or not it’s possible. 
</p><p>Q    Following up on that, though, then -- according to those who are asking for the medal to be rescinded, they’re saying the President could issue an order that the 2002 Medal of Freedom bestowed on Bill Cosby is hereby rescinded.  They’re also saying that the President could make a request to Bill Cosby that he rescind it.  I mean, what do you say to that?  That’s from the statement --
</p><p>MR. EARNEST:  The only thing I know is just that it’s never been done before.  But I don’t have any --
</p><p>Q    Could you take that question?
</p>
MR. EARNEST:  I'm not going to promise an answer to that.  I don’t know that I’ll have one.  But if I do, I’ll let you know.
The White House
2015-07-09
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