The fallout against Sen. Josh Hawley for backing a bid to contest the Electoral College results in Congress continues as a prominent hotel chain backed out of a fundraiser in Florida for the Missouri Republican, according to a report.
Hawley was one of a number of GOP senators and House members who announced they would oppose certifying electoral votes for President-elect Joe Biden during a joint-session of Congress on Jan. 6 – a process that was interrupted when a mob of President Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol.
The fundraiser at the Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando was scheduled from Feb. 12 to Feb. 15 and was organized by Fighting for Missouri, but Loews Hotels, the owner of the Portofino, said it was canceling the event.
“We are horrified and opposed to the events at the Capitol and all who supported and incited the actions,” Loews Hotel said on Twitter Saturday. “In light of those events and for the safety of our guests and team members, we have informed the host of the Feb. fundraiser that it will no longer be held at Loews Hotels.”
The publisher Simon & Schuster, a day after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, canceled a book deal with Hawley, saying it no longer supports the senator for “his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom.”
“After witnessing the disturbing, deadly insurrection that took place on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Simon & Schuster has decided to cancel publication of Senator Josh Hawley’s forthcoming book, ‘The Tyranny of Big Tech,’” Simon & Schuster said.
Thousands of pro-Trump supporters descended on the Capitol, broke out windows and breached the doors of the building, sending lawmakers scurrying for safety in undisclosed locations.
Five people died because of the mayhem, including a Capitol Police officer who died of his wounds defending the Capitol.
The Electoral College certification resumed hours later after law enforcement officials were able to clear the Capitol of the rioters and confirmed Biden was the winner of the Nov. 3 presidential election.
In a statement, Hawley’s office said the senator will not be cowed.
“If these corporations don’t want conservatives to speak, they should just be honest about it. But to equate leading a debate on the floor of the Senate with inciting violence is a lie, and it’s dangerous. I will not be deterred from representing my constituents and I will not bow to left wing corporate pressure,” Hawley said in the statement.
With Post wires
The post Loews Hotels backs out of fundraiser for GOP Sen. Josh Hawley over election stance appeared first on New York Post.
