Tag: Josh Hawley

By Blocking Biden’s DHS Nominee, Hawley Is Picking a Bigger Fight over Immigration

Alexander Mayorkas is eminently qualified to lead the rudderless department, but objections over policy have delayed his confirmation.

Of all the agencies and departments damaged during the Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security sustained perhaps the greatest and most prolonged assault. It has been nearly two years since the department had a Senate-confirmed secretary (Kirstjen Nielson), so it would stand to reason that senators would be anxious to confirm a nominee to bring order and legitimacy to that post. But already some Republicans are balking at confirming President Biden’s choice, Alejandro Mayorkas. Sen. Josh Hawley objected to bringing Mayorkas’ nomination to a quick vote, which required unanimous consent, and several Republican senators on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voiced concerns about Mayorkas during confirmation hearings this week.

This is an amazing turn of events given Mayorkas’ background: He’s been a federal prosecutor and deputy director of the Department as well as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, having been previously confirmed by the Senate three times. He is also an immigrant, who knows from personal experience the privilege of citizenship. His parents fled communism in Cuba, bringing him to America as a child, where he learned first-hand the opportunity this country offers, in President Reagan’s words, “to anyone with the will and heart to get here.”

But Mayorkas the man is not the actual target of senators like Hawley, though they may try to tarnish him personally to achieve their objectives. Their opposition is to the Biden administration’s vision for a new era in immigration policy and enforcement. Even Sen. Hawley has admitted as much, saying, “Mr. Mayorkas has not adequately explained how he will enforce federal law and secure the southern border given President-elect Biden’s promise to roll back major enforcement and security measures.” Translation: After four years of the Trump administration’s cruelty, incompetence, and disregard for the equal protection of the law, the Biden administration’s plan is thoughtful, measured, and in line with the values for which this nation is known. And Hawley can’t stand it. Continue reading.

Josh Hawley hometown paper reveals ‘warning signs’: Senator has lifelong history of siding with right-wing extremists

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Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) exhibited “warning signs” of an extremist sympathizer long before he sided with a mob of people who set out to attack the U.S. Capitol, according to a recent report.

The Kansas City Star revealed on Sunday that Hawley has a history of standing up for racists and extremists that stunned his early mentors.

According to the Star, Hawley spoke up for the rights of militia members after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and defended L.A. police detective Mark Fuhrman against charges of racism following the trial of O.J. Simpson. Continue reading.

Josh Hawley slammed for railing against ‘the muzzling of America’ — on the front page of the New York Post

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In an op-ed published by the New York Post on Sunday, January 24, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri complains bitterly about what he claims is “the latest form of cancel culture” in the United States: being lambasted for his unwavering support of President Donald Trump following the 2020 presidential election. But Hawley’s op-ed wasn’t buried deep inside the pages of the Post, which ran it as a cover story. And the far-right Republican and Trump loyalist is drawing a great deal of criticism for claiming that he exemplifies “the muzzling of America” in light of the fact that a major newspaper in the largest city in the U.S. gave him the front cover to make his bogus claims.

In his op-ed, Hawley writes, “On behalf of the voters of my state, I raised a challenge to the presidential electors from Pennsylvania after that state conducted the election in violation of the state constitution. Maybe you agree with me. Maybe you don’t. But whatever your view, Corporate America’s rush to cancel those it dislikes should trouble you.”

Hawley makes it sound like he is being persecuted for standing up for democracy. In fact, he’s being criticized for pandering to extremists who were making false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Hawley cynically announced that on January 6, he would contest Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. And a now-infamous photo shows Hawley waving in solidarity with violent far-right insurrectionists who later stormed the U.S. Capitol Building in the hope of preventing the certification of democratic election results. Continue reading.

Democrats file ethics complaints against Hawley and Cruz, but action unlikely

Secretive ethics committee last took public action in 2018

Seven Democratic senators are asking the chamber’s ethics committee to investigate Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley for objecting to the Electoral College certification of President Joe Biden’s victory on Jan. 6, a day in which a violent pro-Trump group of insurrectionists invaded the Capitol.

It is doubtful that the committee, which took no disciplinary actions in 2019 — the most recent year for which an annual report is available — and dismissed almost all of the 251 complaints it received that year, will venture into a complaint that is light on alleged ethics violations.

Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Tina Smith of Minnesota, with five of their colleagues, wrote to Chairman Chris Coons, D-Del., and Vice Chairman James Lankford, R-Okla., alleging that Hawley and Cruz “lent legitimacy to the mob’s cause and made future violence more likely.” Continue reading.

Senate Democrats file ethics complaint against Hawley, Cruz over Capitol attack

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Seven Senate Democrats are asking the Ethics Committee to open an investigation into GOP Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Ted Cruz (Texas) over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The senators filed a complaint on Thursday with the committee asking that it probe whether Hawley and Cruz’s objections to the Electoral College results violated the chamber’s ethics rules.

“The Senate Ethics Committee should investigate their conduct to fully understand their role. The actions of which we know demand an investigation and a determination whether disciplinary action is warranted.  Until then, a cloud of uncertainty will hang over them and over this body,” the senators wrote. Continue reading.

Hawley delays quick confirmation of Biden’s DHS nominee

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Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced on Tuesday he would place a hold on Alejandro Mayorkas, President-elect Joe Biden’s choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Hawley, who has come under fire recently amid allegations that he played a role in the Capitol riot early this month, made the announcement just hours after the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs wrapped its hearing with Mayorkas. The move delays the nomination of a post Democrats have argued is critical to fill immediately to protect national security.

“Mr. Mayorkas has not adequately explained how he will enforce federal law and secure the southern border given President-elect Biden’s promise to roll back major enforcement and security measures,” Hawley said in a statement. Continue reading.

Sen. Hawley Loses More Major Donors Over Capitol Riot

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has lost the support of another prominent GOP megadonor over his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.

“Sometimes politicians deceive their donors,” billionaire Jeffrey Yass recently wrote in an email, published by the Guardian on Monday, explaining his disappointment in Hawley’s actions. Yass, co-founder of trading firm Susquehanna International Group, has donated tens of millions to the right-wing Club for Growth, which spent millions of dollars on Hawley’s 2018 victory.

A Hawley spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story. Continue reading.

Ex-McCaskill staffers launch PAC to block Hawley’s electoral ambitions

The group is called JOSH PAC, an acronym for Just Oust Seditious Hacks. 

Democrats are looking for revenge against Sen. Josh Hawley after he challenged the results of the presidential election last week.

A group of ex-staffers for former Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill are launching a new organization dedicated to preventing Hawley from winning any further election, whether it’s reelection to the Senate in 2024 or in a future presidential run, according to a source familiar with the effort. Hawley defeated McCaskill in 2018.

The new group is called JOSH PAC, an acronym for Just Oust Seditious Hacks. The organization formally registered with the Federal Election Commission this week and has quietly set up a website and Twitter account. Continue reading.

Hawley, Cruz face rising anger, possible censure

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Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are facing a possible vote on a censure resolution in the Senate as Democrats and some Republicans blame them for the mob that attacked the Capitol last week.

Several Democratic senators have called on Hawley and Cruz to resign and Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have called for them to be expelled if they don’t step down voluntarily.

Democratic aides say there is a discussion about censuring the two lawmakers for helping to incite protesters who temporarily halted the counting of the Electoral College last week after overrunning Capitol Police. Continue reading.

GOP Sen. Josh Hawley gets condemned by fellow Republican: ‘ ‘Lies have consequences’

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Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) is still angry about his Republican colleague Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) recent political stunt in support of President Donald Trump’s dangerous coup to challenge the Electoral College certification despite the U.S. Capitol breach that led to the deaths of five people. 

On Friday, Jan.8, Sasse appeared on NPR’s “Morning Edition” with host Steve Inskeep where he discussed the disturbing series of events that unfolded this week. The Republican lawmaker lambasted Hawley for his attempt to invalidate the outcome of the election on behalf of a disgraced president.

Sasse did not hold back when it came to sharing his brutally honest opinion of the Missouri senator. “Senator Hawley was doing something that was really dumbass, and I have been clear about that in public and in private since long before he announced he was going to do this” Sasse said. Continue reading.