Democrats ask ethics panel to investigate Sens. Cruz, Hawley

WASHINGTON (AP)

Seven Democratic senators have asked the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley "to fully understand their role" in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Thousands had gathered that day as Congress voted to formally certify Joe Biden's win over Trump, while Hawley and Cruz led objections in the Senate to Biden's victory.

The Democratic senators said Cruz and Hawley knew claims of election fraud were baseless and had led to threats of violence. The Democrats said those actions lent "credence to the insurrectionists' cause and set the stage for future violence."

Cruz and Hawley have condemned the violence.

In the aftermath of Jan. 6, Simon & Schuster canceled its contract to publish Hawley's book, "The Tyranny of Big Tech." Conservative publisher Regnery has since said it will publish the book.

Hawley has also lost support from some major donors and public figures who have helped his political career.

Hawley said in a statement that Biden and other Democrats are trying to "silence dissent."

"Democrats appear intent on weaponizing every tool at their disposal — including pushing an unconstitutional impeachment process — to further divide the country," Hawley said. "Missourians will not be cancelled by these partisan attacks."