Topline
The prominent publishing company Simon & Schuster announced Thursday that it has cancelled the publication of a book authored by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who is facing calls to resign after some believe he helped inspire the angry mob that forced its way into the U.S. Capitol and trashed the halls of Congress on Wednesday, but Hawley has vowed to challenge the company’s decision in court.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) speaks as Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett testifies … [+] before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the third day of her Supreme Court confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Oct. 14, 2020 in Washington. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
In a statement, Simon & Schuster said the 41-year-old’s upcoming book “The Tyranny of Big Tech” would not be published by the company, saying “we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens.”
The company went on to say it could no longer “support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom.”
In December, Hawley became the first senator to announce he’d bring forth a challenge of Electoral College votes as part of an effort to overturn the results of the presidential election and keep President Donald Trump in power.
Ten more Republican senators later said they would join the effort to overturn the election, a futile effort that never had a hope of succeeding but ultimately attracted thousands of Trump supporters to Washington on Wednesday, the day Congress was set to certify and also hear objections to the results of the Electoral College.
Hawley was photographed raising his fist in apparent solidarity with Trump supporters as they gathered outside of the Capitol, before they ultimately forced their way inside the building.
Hawley also continued his objection efforts late into the night after Congress resumed certifying results after retaking control of the Capitol.
Chief Critic
In a statement Thursday, Hawley called Simon & Schuster’s move “Orwellian.” “This is the Left looking to cancel everyone they don’t approve of,” Hawley said. “I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have.”
Crucial Quote
“We did not come to this decision lightly,” Simon & Schuster said in a statement.
Key Background
Hawley, along with fellow electoral challenge leader Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are facing calls to resign from some lawmakers who felt they instigated the mob through their entirely unfounded effort to overturn the election results. Hawley is also being asked to either resign or “be removed” by one of his state’s most prominent newspapers, The Kansas City Star, which published a scathing editorial Thursday saying that Hawley had no sense of decency and continually fed lies to his supporters, behavior that the newspaper said means Hawley “will have to be expelled.”
Further Reading
Josh Hawley becomes first senator to say he’ll object to certification of Biden’s win (The Kansas City Star)
House Democrats Push To Expel GOP Colleagues Who ‘Incited’ Capitol Breach (Forbes)
If Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley had a conscience, he’d resign. He’ll have to be removed (The Kansas City Star)
