Sen. Josh Hawley is more likely to be questioned about the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol rally now that former U.S. Pres. Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home has been raided by the FBI, according to a former state representative.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Josh Hawley was next,” said Jean Evans, executive director emeritus of the Missouri Republican Party. “It's not just Republicans, it's people from all spectrums who are feeling like the government has overstepped and if they do it to Trump, they can do it to anybody.”
Hawley not only objected to the certification of the 2020 presidential election, but he also raised his fist in solidarity with pro-Trump supporters who attended the rally, which has been dubbed an insurrection by Democrats. The gesture Hawley made to encourage the protestors is now emblazoned on coffee cups that are sold online.
Hawley on TV screen
| Youtube
“Hawley is a very intelligent attorney so if they do decide to question him, I'm sure he will cooperate, but I don't think they will trap him, which just seems to be what they've been attempting to do,” Evans told the St. Louis Record.
The Jan. 6 committee, chaired by Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson (D) and Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R), subpoenaed Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan (R) Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks (R), Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs (R), and many other conservatives.
“I don't see anything wrong with investigating January 6th,” said Evans who once represented District 99. “I think that's a good idea, but the way they have turned this into a bit of a sideshow, I think detracts from the original purpose. So, it's hard for me to take them seriously at this point.”
Although the Jan. 6 Committee did not subpoena Hawley, it did air a video clip on national television of him jogging through the capitol away from the rally after his previous fist-pump gesture, which allegedly riled up Trump supporters. The audience at the Jan. 6 committee hearing laughed while the video clip was shown twice.
“They could still go after him, but they went out of their way to mock him for running away and maybe they decided to back off after that because people on both sides of the aisle thought it was a deliberate attempt to embarrass him, which is not supposed to be the purpose of the committee,” Evans added. “Certainly, Hawley has his detractors who thought that was funny, but even friends of mine who don't like Hawley thought it was unstatesmanlike, unprofessional, and not really what the committee should be doing.”
Hawley did not immediately respond to requests for comment.