The University of Rhode Island is revoking honorary degrees bestowed upon two once-prominent advisers to former President Donald Trump: retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. The university's board of trustees voted Friday to revoke the degrees following internal deliberations that included a recommendation by URI President Marc Parlange. The president said in a statement that Flynn and Giuliani 'no longer represent' the values and standards they demonstrated when they first received the honors. The University of Rhode Island has voted to revoke honorary degrees awarded to retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn and former NYC mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Pictured in 2016 'As a civic institution, URI has the privilege and responsibility to sustain and preserve American democracy by inspiring and modeling good citizenship,' president of the university Marc Parlange, pictured, said. 'Revoking these honorary degrees reinforces our values and allows us to lead with truth and integrity.' 'As a civic institution, URI has the privilege and responsibility to sustain and preserve American democracy by inspiring and modeling good citizenship,' Parlange said. 'Revoking these honorary degrees reinforces our values and allows us to lead with truth and integrity.' 'After reviewing the recommendation from the President, who endorsed the committee's recommendation, the Board voted to approve the revocation of these honorary degrees,' Margo Cook, chair of the board of trustees, said in a statement 'The Board of Trustees supports the University and its mission to uphold its values, especially its commitment to intellectual and ethical leadership and fostering an environment of diversity and respect.' Giuliani, who served as one of Trump´s top legal advisers, was awarded the Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa in 2003 based on his leadership in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks, according to URI. Giuliani was awarded the doctor of laws honoris causa in 2003 based on his demonstrated leadership in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks The University's committee noted how Giuliani participated in the January 6, 2021 rally that incited the insurrection on the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Flynn, a three-star Army general, who briefly served as Trump's national security adviser before resigning following reports he misled Trump officials about his contacts with Russia, was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2014. A spokesperson for Giuliani didn't respond to an email seeking comment, but Flynn's family released a lengthy and strongly worded statement ahead of Friday's vote in which it dismissed it as 'cowardly and corrupt.' 'With this flawed and crooked action, URI endorses the destructive and tyrannical cancel culture, bowing down to the woke mob and repressive forces, while revealing itself to lack the intellectual capacity, fortitude or integrity that is required of an American public university in the 21st century,' the family statement read in part. In the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks he became known as America's Mayor for his leadership. In 2021, he continued to make false allegations that the 2020 election was rigged The university board cited a number of findings by URI's honorary degree committee, which is made up of faculty, staff and students, that led to its decision. For Flynn, it noted, among other things, that he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. The Rhode Island native and 1981 URI graduate was pardoned by Trump in 2020. Flynn had been a decorated general who became director of the Defense Intelligence Agency under former president Barack Obama in 2012, retiring two years later. He became a loyal supporter of Trump, who appointed him to be his national security adviser. He resigned after just 22 days after it was revealed that he misled the administration about conversations he had with the Russian ambassador to the US. Trump pardoned Flynn after he pled guilty to lying to the FBI. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and last year called for a coup similar to what occurred in Myanmar to take place in the United States In 2014, pictured, Flynn, who was a 1981 graduate of the university and a three-star Army general, was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters The URI decision also cited two speeches Flynn gave — one in Dallas in which he said 'a military coup was needed in the U.S.' and another in San Antonio in which he 'called for the establishment of 'one religion' in the U.S.' For Giuliani, the university concluded that his words 'encouraged domestic terrorist behavior' that led to the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. 'His words encouraged domestic terrorist behavior aimed at preventing Congress from certifying the outcome of the 2020 presidential election,' it said. It also noted he has been suspended from practicing law in the District of Columbia and New York for making 'unfounded claims of rampant fraud during the 2020 presidential election.' The president of the University of Rhode Island (URI), pictured, said in a statement that Flynn and Giuliani 'no longer represent' the values and standards they demonstrated when they first received the honors All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility