Simon & Schuster announced on Thursday they are cancelling the publication of an upcoming book from Republican Sen. Josh Hawley after he tried to derail a vote on Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.
In a statement, the publisher said it could no longer support Hawley, a potential 2024 presidential contender, for what it said was “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,” the statement read, referring to the Capitol siege which killed four people.
“We did not come to this decision lightly. As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom.”
The Republican senator from Missouri objected to President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania during a joint session of Cong💜ress which was violently interrupted by a mob of pro-Trump supporters. Before the siege he was pictured raising a clenched fist in support of the gathered protesters.
“This could not be more Orwellian,” .
“Simon & Schuster is canceling my contract because I was representing my constituents, leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity, which they have now decided to redefine as sedition,” he said.
“It’s a direct assault on the First Amendment,” he added. “Only approved speech can now be published. This is the Left looking to cancel everyone they don’t approve of. I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have.”
He added, “we’ll see you in court.”
Hawley, 41, resisted intense pressure from fellow conservatives who urged Trump’s allies to cease objections🃏 after a mob invaded the US Congress, terrorizing lawmake🦄rs.
Hawley told The Post prior to the break-in, which🍃 delayed proceedings, that he did not expect to overturn Biden’s victory, but wanted to force a debate on alleged voter fraud and election irregularities.
“I think there’s no votes for that, I mean, at all,” Hawley said of potentiaꦓlly overturning Biden’s win.
The lawmaker is considered one of the top contenders for the 2024 GOP presidential race and has been an outspoken critic of big tech during hearings on Capitol Hill this year.
Hawley’s office has not released a statement in the wake of Simon & Schuster’s decision.