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GOP Senator Josh Hawley to challenge Electoral College results in Senate, Internet says 'you're a traitor'

Election law experts say Hawley forcing the debate won't change the result, but will further erode democratic norms

On January 6, Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley will "object" when Congress counts the Electoral College votes. Hawley announced this via a tweet, saying: "Millions of voters concerned about election integrity deserve to be heard. I will object on January 6 on their behalf". This will force both the House and Senate to vote on whether to accept the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.

In the lengthy statement accompanying the tweet, Hawley said: "I cannot vote to certify the electoral college results on January 6 without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws. And I cannot vote to certify without pointing out the unprecedented effort of mega corporations, including Facebook and Twitter, to interfere in this election, in support of Joe Biden. At the very least, Congress should investigate allegations of voter fraud and adopt measures to secure the integrity of our elections. But Congress has so far failed to act." He added that he would be following the "same practice" of Democrat members of Congress and "object" to the certification process on January 6 to raise "these critical issues".

However, some called him out on his move, including members of his own party. GOP lawmaker Adam Kinzinger tweeted, trying to interpret Hawley's state of mind, saying: "I want to be President so I decided to try to get POTUS tweet saying I’m great even though I know this isn’t going anywhere, but hey... I’ll blame someone else when it fails.” Rep. Paul Mitchell of Michigan, who quit the GOP because of President Trump’s actions after the November 3 election, replied to Kinzinger saying: "Sen Hawley is just getting in the queue early for ‘24. whatever position he needs to weave to be seen as a 'contender' he will undertake. Principles are optional or at least malleable."

Other Twitter users also chimed in decrying Hawley's "traitorous" behavior. "If you're cheering on people like John Hawley, who blatantly want to overturn the will of millions of Americans, then congratulations — you're a traitor. Turn in your Patriot card," said one tweet, while another said: "Do something about Josh Hawley and the rest of the GOP Senate traitors. We can't live with this anxiety anymore. There are millions of us who are worried about Jan 6." Another Republican voter tweeted: "@HawleyMO the Grand Objector, wants us to believe no one in the entire US can be trusted when it comes to voting. As a GOP-registered voter, I regard Hawley as a traitor to our country, encouraging our destruction. Takes a lot to make me this angry."

Hawley's decision comes after a group of House conservatives unitedly pledged to make the bid to overturn the results of the presidential election by objecting to the Electoral College results. But in order to force the debate and vote, the House members needed the support of a senator — this was something they didn't have before Hawley's announcement. According to legal affairs reporter John Kruzel at The Hill, "election law experts say it won't change the result, but will further erode democratic norms and amplify false claims of fraud".

The decision to "object" by Hawley, seen as a 2024 presidential contender, is seen as a power move to put pressure on others who may be thinking of throwing their hat in the ring. The vote will force those Republicans who dismiss Trump's claims to voice their opinions publically, rather than privately and earn the ire of Trump supporters.