Seven senators filed an ethics complaint against Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, alleging that their actions helped stoke the mob that broke into the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6 as Congress debated objections to Electoral College results.
“By proceeding with their objections to the electors after the violent attack, Senators Cruz and Hawley lent legitimacy to the mob’s cause and made future violence more likely,” said the complaint filed with the Senate Ethics Committee Thursday. It asked the committee for “recommendations for strong disciplinary action, including up to expulsion or censure, if warranted by the facts uncovered.”
Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Sherrod Brown of Ohio signed the nine-page complaint.
The complaint mentions a theory circulating among Democrats that the Jan. 6 riot “may have been coordinated with members of Congress,” and, though the complaint had no evidence to support the suspicion, brought up the possibility that Cruz and Hawley may have participated in that coordination.
“The extent, if any, of communication or coordination between Sens. Hawley and Cruz and the organizers of the rally remains to be investigated,” the complaint said. “Because several of the House members who objected to the electors coordinated with the organizers of the ‘Save America’ rally, it is not unreasonable to assume that Senators Cruz and Hawley may also have been involved.”
The subjects of the complaint have brushed off criticisms from their colleagues.
“Well, it’s unfortunate to see Democrats play political games. And I would encourage them to listen to President Biden’s call for unity given just a couple hours ago,” Cruz told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday, shortly after Biden’s inauguration.
In a response to his colleagues calling for his censure or resignation, Hawley was defiant on Thursday.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he told Capitol Hill reporters.
Other points in the complaint note the widely circulated image of Hawley raising his fist in support of support those protesting outside the Capitol and that Cruz and Hawley sent fundraising messages to supporters in the days leading up to Jan. 6 that said they were going to “leading the charge” to challenge electors.
“The public record is already replete with information that predicates an investigation and possible discipline as may be appropriate,” the complaint said. “The Senate Ethics Committee should determine if Senators Cruz and Hawley failed in their duty to ‘put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to country above loyalty to persons, party, or Government department’ or otherwise engaged in improper conduct.”
Democrats will have an edge on the Senate Ethics Committee due in part to the retirement of Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas. There has not yet been an organizing resolution since Democrats assumed control of the 50-50 divided Senate on Wednesday.
“They’re welcome to play whatever political games they like,” Cruz said about the Democratic complaints against him on Thursday.
