JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Josh Hawley grabbed national headlines, cheers from supporters of President Donald Trump and effusive praise from the White House when he became the first member of the U.S. Senate to announce he would object to electoral votes of at least one state won by President-elect Joe Biden.
A week later, the Missouri Republican was lying low — with critics labeling him a political opportunist whose efforts were partly responsible for the mayhem that engulfed the U.S. Capitol.
Hawley's change in fortunes happened quickly. Hours after he was photographed raising his fist in support of protesters who had gathered in Washington at Trump's urging, many of them swarmed the "people's house," vandalizing and ransacking government property and terrorizing lawmakers and staff. Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, have died.
