Senate Democrats file ethics complaint against Hawley and Cruz for election challenge

Hawley, in a statement, described the complaint as “a blatant abuse of the Senate ethics process and a blatant attempt at partisan revenge” and said Democrats appeared “determined to militarize all the tools at their disposal.”

A spokesperson for Cruz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Both senators denied allegations that they instigated the January 6 uprising, which resulted in the deaths of five people, and condemned the violence.

But in Thursday’s letter, Democratic senators say that by announcing that they would challenge the election results, Hawley and Cruz gave credibility to former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.

Additionally, the letter also notes that Cruz and Hawley still voted against certification of presidential election results in Pennsylvania and Arizona, hours after the January 6 insurgency.

“By continuing to oppose voters after the insurgency, Senators Cruz and Hawley gave legitimacy to the mob cause,” the Senators wrote.

In addition to Whitehouse, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio.) signed the letter.

Cruz and Hawley have been confronted with a bipartisan reaction to their electoral challenge since the January 6 attacks. Several Democratic senators, including Coons, have said they should step down.

Hawley, meanwhile, lost a book deal with Simon & Schuster. His mentor, former Senator John Danforth, said his support for the Missouri Republican “was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life.” And Cruz’s communications director resigned.