Hawley, in a statement, described the complaint as “a flagrant abuse of the Senate ethics process and a flagrant attempt at party revenge” and said Democrats seemed “committed to using every tool at their disposal as a weapon”.
A spokesman for Cruz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Both senators denied accusations of inciting the January 6 uprising, which resulted in the death of five people, and condemned the violence.
But in Thursday’s letter, Democratic senators argue that by announcing that they would contest the election results, Hawley and Cruz lent credibility to former President Donald Trump’s baseless allegations of widespread electoral fraud.
In addition, the letter also notes that Cruz and Hawley still voted against certifying the results of the presidential election in Pennsylvania and Arizona, hours after the January 6 uprising.
“By continuing to object to voters after the insurrection, Senators Cruz and Hawley gave legitimacy to the crowd’s cause,” wrote the senators.
In addition to Whitehouse, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) .) signed the letter.
Cruz and Hawley have faced bipartisan reactions to the electoral challenge since the January 6 attacks. Several Democratic senators, including Coons, said they should step down.
Hawley, however, lost a book contract with Simon & Schuster. His mentor, former Senator John Danforth, said his support for the Missouri Republican “was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my life.” And Cruz’s communications director resigned.