Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley defended himself after being criticized for allegedly ignoring former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, supporting his legs in the Senate gallery and reviewing the paperwork.
The criticism was particularly focused on the fact that Hawley was the first Republican senator who pledged to oppose the January 6 parliamentary certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory at the Electoral College. His vote seemed to support Trump’s repeatedly denied claim that the election had been “stolen” by widespread electoral fraud.
However, Hawley said he chose to sit in the gallery because he was less “claustrophobic” than the Senate floor and because it gave him a better view of impeachment managers. “I have the instructions for the trial and I also have my notes that I am taking during the – during the process,” Hawley told reporters, explaining his reading of the paperwork during the trial.
“Republican Senator Josh Hawley – who opposed Biden’s victory and encouraged the attack on the Capitol – is currently sitting in the Senate gallery. Not once did he pay attention to the impeachment trial,” wrote national political reporter Hugo Lowell on Twitter before the Hawley’s comments explaining his behavior.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley – who opposed Biden’s victory and encouraged the attack on the Capitol – is currently sitting in the Senate gallery. Not once did he pay attention to the impeachment trial.
– Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) February 10, 2021
“Republican Josh Hawley is ignoring the trial by reading things that have nothing to do with impeachment … even sitting with his legs raised in the seat in front of him. If that expels you from biology class, why not do it with that he be expelled from the Senate? “writer Chip Franklin wrote.
Breakup via MSNBC: Republican Josh Hawley is ignoring the trial by reading things that have nothing to do with impeachment … even sitting with his legs raised in the seat in front of him.
If that gets you kicked out of Biology, why doesn’t it get you kicked out of the Senate?
– Chip Franklin InsideTheBeltway.com (@chipfranklin) February 10, 2021
“Josh Hawley is sitting in the gallery, not on the floor, ‘continuing to read papers in unmarked manila folders. They looked like the folders he had on his desk on Tuesday, but of course being in the gallery meant reporters in the gallery could not see ‘them’, wrote NBC News correspondent Mike Memoli.
Josh Hawley is sitting in the gallery, not on the floor “, continuing to read papers in unmarked manila folders. They looked like the folders he had on his desk on Tuesday, but of course being in the gallery meant that the reporters at the gallery couldn’t see “in them – @kasie
– Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) February 10, 2021
“Hawley said that Democrats are presenting their case in a” very understandable and easy to follow manner. “But he added,” I don’t think that will change any opinion. In my opinion, we have no jurisdiction, “wrote CNN Chief Correspondent of Congress, Manu Raju.
Hawley said Democrats are presenting their case in a “very understandable and easy to follow manner”. But he added: “I don’t think I will change my mind. In my opinion, we have no jurisdiction.”
– Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 10, 2021
“It must be forever on January 6 as we see Josh Hawley, who showed no remorse or regret for instigating an effort to overthrow the United States government,” wrote former deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes.
It should be forever on January 6 as we see Josh Hawley, who showed zero remorse or regret for instigating an effort to overthrow the US government. https://t.co/qD8WbXQ8mW
– Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) February 10, 2021
“Josh Hawley is deliberately putting on a show of himself. Why would he disrespect those who died on January 6 and after? Why?” Author Anne Rice wrote.
Josh Hawley is deliberately making a show of himself. Why would he disrespect those who died on January 6 and after? Why?
– Anne Rice (@AnneRiceAuthor) February 10, 2021
Trump is accused of inciting the January 6 uprising, which sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in his favor. Five people died in the insurrection and about 140 policemen were injured, including one with a broken spine, a missing eye, missing fingers and some with brain damage.
On the night of the insurrection, the editorial board of The Kansas City Star, a newspaper in the home state of Hawley, Missouri, published an editorial entitled “Attack on Democracy: Senator Josh Hawley has blood on his hands in an attempted coup on Capitol Hill.”
“Hawley, [Republican Kansas Senator Roger] Marshall and other Republicans who supported [President Donald] Trump’s coup over widespread fraud has always known his claims to be false. Now that they have seen exactly where these lies have taken us, “said the editorial.
Former Missouri Republican Senator and United Nations Ambassador John C. Danforth said he regretted endorsing Hawley during the 2018 midterm elections after Hawley led the Republican Senate’s challenge to the Electoral College vote in favor of President-elect Joe Biden.
“Supporting Josh and trying so hard to get him elected to the Senate was the worst mistake I ever made in my life,” Danforth said in a telephone interview with St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Newsweek contacted Hawley’s office for comment.
Win McNamee / Getty