Sen. Josh Hawley moans about 'media and members of the Washington establishment' labeling him an 'insurrectionist' following Capitol riot as he defends decision to object to Electoral College count

Josh Hawley has defended himself in a newspaper op-ed after he was accused of inciting last week's siege of the U.S. Capitol by a mob of MAGA supporters. 

The Republican Senator penned the piece for the Southeastern Missourian on Thursday, explaining why he objected to certifying Joe Biden's presidential victory during the Electoral College count - a move which critics claim fueled the violent attack. 

Hawley claimed he was acting on behalf of his constituents who had expressed concerns about voter fraud and the integrity of the election. 

The Senator began his piece by attempting to point out Democrat hypocrisy on the issue, saying left-wing politicians had often objected to the Electoral College vote count in years' past. 

He wrote: 'Dozens of Democratic members of Congress have lodged objections in precisely the same forum over the last three decades. To be specific, Democrats objected after the elections of 2000, 2004, and 2016–in other words, every time a Republican has won the White House in the last thirty years.' 

'The difference between those past instances and this year, however, is striking. In the past, when Democrats objected, they were praised for standing up for democracy. In 2005...  Nancy Pelosi praised the objections, saying, "This debate is fundamental to our democracy" and "we are witnessing democracy at work"'.

Hawley went on to blame 'the media and many members of the Washington establishment' for now switching the narrative, and portraying anyone who objected to this year's Electoral College count as an 'insurrectionist'. 

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Josh Hawley has defended himself in a newspaper op-ed after he was accused of inciting last week's violent siege of the U.S. Capitol by a mob of MAGA supporters

'They want to deceive Americans into thinking those who raised concerns incited violence, simply by voicing the concern. That's false. And the allegation itself is corrosive and dangerous,' he wrote. 

The Senator stated that he roundly condemned the destructive scenes that played out at the Capitol, but insisted that 'democratic debate is not mob violence.'

He claimed he objected to certifying the Electoral College count because many Missourians had voiced their concerns about the integrity of the presidential election. 

'They want Congress to take action to see that our elections at every level are free, fair, and secure,' he explained. 

'They have a right to be heard in Congress. And as their representative, it is my duty to speak on their behalf. That is just what I did last week.'

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The Republican Senator penned the piece for the Southeastern Missourian on Thursday

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'Some wondered why I stuck with my objection following the violence at the Capitol. The reason is simple: I will not bow to a lawless mob, or allow criminals to drown out the legitimate concerns of my constituents': Hawley is pictured objecting to the Electoral College certification after the riot on Wednesday  

Hawley caused controversy after he went ahead with his objection, even after the violence at the Capitol. 

He stated: 'The reason is simple: I will not bow to a lawless mob, or allow criminals to drown out the legitimate concerns of my constituents.'

The op-ed marks the the first time Hawley has publicly defended himself since the brutal attack last Wednesday. 

Five people died, including a Capitol police officer, and lawmakers had to scramble for safety and hide as rioters rampaged through the building, delaying by hours the tally of Electoral College votes that was the last step in finalizing Democrat Joe Biden's victory over Trump. 

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The Senator stated that he roundly condemned the destructive scenes that played out at the Capitol, but insisted that 'democratic debate is not mob violence'

Hawley was the first senator to announce a challenge to the Electoral College results.

Concerns were also raised after a photo emerged of Hawley greeting protesters outside the Capitol with a raised fist, though that happened before the mob stormed the building.

Other than Trump himself, no politician has suffered the fallout as has Hawley. Multiple donors have pulled financial support. Meanwhile, the Trump-opposing Lincoln Project said it would take out full-page newspaper ads calling out his remaining donors. 

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Five people died, including a Capitol police officer, and lawmakers had to scramble for safety and hide as rioters rampaged through the building

Also on Wednesday, small crowds gathered at Hawley's offices in Kansas City, Springfield, St. Louis and Columbia in what was dubbed a statewide 'Funeral for Democracy.' The groups delivered letters to the offices demanding Hawley's resignation.

'Missouri is fed up,' Justice Horn, of Kansas City, who helped organize the event, said in a news release. 'Our Senator, Josh Hawley, is an embarrassment to our state because he supported a bloody coup attempt to overthrow our election. The best thing to do is resign.'

The health care IT firm Cerner Corp. based in Kansas City, Missouri, said Wednesday that it will suspend contributions 'to any candidate or official who took part in or incited violence last week in Washington, D.C.'  

Walmart said Tuesday that its PAC 'is indefinitely suspending contributions to those members of Congress who voted against the lawful certification of state electoral college votes.'

Hallmark Cards, based in Kansas City, earlier this week asked Hawley and Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas to return employee campaign donations. The company said its employees donated $7,000 to Hawley and $5,000 to Marshall during the last two years through its PAC.

Meanwhile, last week, Hawley's  book deal with Simon & Schuster was dropped, with the publisher saying in a statement it 'cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat.

The company had been planning to publish Hawley's upcoming book, titled The Tyranny of Big Tech. 

Hawley was one of the Republican Party's rising stars, and considered a top contender to be the party's presidential candidate in 2024. It remains to be seen whether he can make a political comeback. 

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Hawley was one of the Republican Party's rising stars, and considered a top contender to be the party's presidential candidate in 2024. It remains to be seen whether he can make a political comeback