Overview
- Johnson’s office said long-standing House precedent reserves the Rotunda for presidents, former members of Congress, military leaders, and Supreme Court justices.
- There is no formal statute governing who may lie in state or lie in honor, and such ceremonies typically require agreement from both the House and the Senate, according to the Associated Press.
- Civil-rights leaders and allies criticized the denial as too narrow, with NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemning the decision, while supporters argue Jackson’s stature fits rare past exceptions such as Rosa Parks and Billy Graham.
- The Jackson family has scheduled memorial services in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and South Carolina, with final services set for March 6–7 in Chicago, according to the Associated Press.
- A source familiar with the decision told CNN the move followed precedent rather than politics, noting prior denials for requests involving Charlie Kirk and former Vice President Dick Cheney.