The Kansas City Star’s editorial board on Tuesday said an inquiry by the Missouri Supreme Court’s Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel into whether Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., violated rules of professional conduct over his objection to Joe Biden’s electoral win could force him to answer for his actions.
"Hawley, whose Senate bio declares that he's 'one of the nation's leading constitutional lawyers,' has yet to take responsibility for his role in inciting an assault on democracy or apologize for repeating baseless allegations about a fraudulent election," the board wrote.
At least 60 attorneys are calling on the Missouri Supreme Court to investigate the actions of Hawley before the deadly riot by Trump’s supporters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, with several accusing the lawmaker of professional misconduct as well as violating his oath of office as a senator.
Alan Hoffman, a retired attorney from St. Louis who circulated one of the letters arguing for sanctions against Hawley, argued that Hawley should either be publicly rebuked or disbarred.
“The accusations are serious enough to warrant disbarment,” Hoffman said. “But that’s not my determination to make.”
Mark Pedroli, a constitutional, transparency, tort, and civil rights lawyer, said Hawley encouraged “the lawlessness and violence which ensued” on Jan. 6 when he raised his fist in salute to those who committed it just prior to the attack and invasion of the Capitol.
“The actions of Senator Hawley have undermined public confidence in and respect for the institutions of the United States,” Pedroli wrote.
Thousands of law students and members of the Missouri, Texas, and D.C. bars last week signed a petition for the disbarment of Hawley and Sen. Ted Cruz for their objections to the certification of the Electoral College votes.
The petition argues that Hawley and Cruz “attacked the foundations of our democracy” by “leading the efforts to undermine the peaceful transition of power after a free and fair election.”
“Hawley’s actions were cynical, wrong, politically motivated and incendiary,” the Kansas City Star wrote. “He has dishonored his office — and his profession. Hawley violated the oath that all lawyers in Missouri swear to support the Constitution, and a formal investigation by the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel should hold him to account.”
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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