A Missouri newspaper is accusing Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley of bringing “additional embarrassment” to the state after supporting former President Donald Trump amid his impeachment trial.
“The Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump should be an opportunity for Missouri Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley to redeem themselves for blindly supporting a man whose conduct was indefensible,” the editorial board wrote in an op-ed published on Wednesday.
They added, “Instead, they continue bringing additional embarrassment to the state after having flirted with the abolition of democracy in favor of keeping a dictator wannabe in the White House.”
The editorial board went on to argue Hawley is the “Senate’s biggest cheerleader” when it comes to supporting Trump’s claims he won the election and how he should not take responsibility for the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
According to the publication, Blunt “had never taken so much time to watch what occurred on that ‘truly a horrendous day'” until House impeachment managers showed footage of it at the trial.
The editorial board noted they both voted against allowing the proceedings to go on.
“In fact, a bipartisan majority of senators have deemed the proceeding to be constitutional,” the members said.
The editorial board referenced a tweet by Hawley attempting to distract from impeachment.
Hawley wrote, “Today Democrats launched their unconstitutional impeachment trial while President Biden cancels thousands of working class jobs across this country. Americans deserve better.”
Today Democrats launched their unconstitutional impeachment trial while President Biden cancels thousands of working class jobs across this country. Americans deserve better
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) February 10, 2021
They continued, “And the attempt to divert attention to Biden, who has not canceled a single job, is pathetic but oh-so-typical of Hawley.”
The editorial board mentioned a letter written by Hawley to his constituents arguing it is time to move on from impeachment because it distracts from issues “such as the crisis of suicide, rising health care and housing costs, and the lack of internet access in rural areas.”
The paper pointed to an earlier tweet by Hawley explaining his reasoning behind objecting to the electoral certification. Hawley claimed he would not “bow to a lawless mob.”
The writers weighed in, “Technically, Hawley is correct. He didn’t bow to the lawless mob; he fist-pumped his solidarity with them.”
Another Missouri newspaper slammed Hawley after the violence at the Capitol, as IJR previously reported.
The Kansas City Star editorial board wrote a piece titled, “Assault on democracy: Sen. Josh Hawley has blood on his hands in Capitol coup attempt.”