Lehigh University rescinds, revokes President Trump's 1988 honorary degree

BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania -- Lehigh University has rescinded and revoked an honorary degree granted to President Donald Trump over 30 years ago in the wake of the deadly riot at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The university's Board of Trustee's released a statement on Friday announcing the decision.

According to the statement, the Executive Committee of the Lehigh University Board of Trustees held a special session on Thursday.

In that meeting, the members voted to "rescind and revoke the honorary degree granted to Donald J. Trump in 1988."

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Calls for President Trump to be removed from office are growing as the exodus from his administration continues.

The full Board of Trustees affirmed the decision on Friday, the statement read.

The decision comes days after a violent mob of Trump supporters occupied the Capitol for several hours as lawmakers were tallying the electoral votes that certified Joe Biden's victory. Five people have died as a result of the riot.

The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that Officer Brian D. Sicknick was injured "while physically engaging with protesters" during the riot.

Lehigh University President John D. Simon called the deadly Capitol riot, a "violent assault on the foundations of our democracy- the abiding respect for the will of the people exercised in a free election and the peaceful transfer of power."

In his statement Thursday, the university president said he hopes "we can turn the sadness and anger that the lawlessness in our nation's capital has evoked into motivation to make our nation more just."

Simon continued, "I trust that it will inspire us to redouble our efforts to unite our country and encourage the peaceful pursuit of governance, guided by truth and reason."

"We have much work to do."