Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO.) is defending his campaign’s decision to sell merchandise that featured him with his raised fist to Jan.6 protesters outside Congress moments before they stormed the Capitol.
The now-infamous photo is featured on a mug with the words “Show Me strong ” and goes for $20 on Hawley’s website.
Hawley told Huffpost on Tuesday that the mug does not mean he supports the attack on the Capitol or condone the violence that day.
“It is not a pro-riot mug,” Hawley said. “This was not me encouraging rioters.”
“At the time that we were out there, folks were gathered peacefully to protest, and they have a right to do that,” Hawley added. “They do not have a right to assault cops.”
He made similar comments last year while defending his actions, telling the Washington Post: “That was as I was entering the House chamber the morning of the 6th. Those were demonstrators who were out there on the plaza, on the far end of the plaza … standing behind barricades, waving American flags.”
“Some of them were calling, so I gestured toward them,” he added. “They had every right to be there. … When I walked by that particular group of folks were standing there peacefully behind police barricades.”
