WASHINGTON — Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley said Friday he would not stop using a photo showing him with his raised fist on campaign merchandise after receiving a cease-and-desist order earlier this week.
Politico owns the photo, which Hawley has used on mugs, drink coozies and T-shirts. Hawley’s attorneys, responding to the complaint from the political news site, said their use of the image fell under “fair use” laws.
“The image used on the mug is a protected fair use and the Hawley Campaign’s speech is further protected by the First Amendment,” wrote Jessica Furst Johnson, Hawley’s campaign counsel. “Neither the Campaign nor Senator Hawley will engage in self-censorship to placate the legally baseless demands of your client.”
