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'Horrified' Loews Hotels Cancel GOP Sen. Josh Hawley Fundraiser After Capitol Siege

Newsweek 1/16/2021 Benjamin Fearnow

a sign on the side of a building: Art deco architecture entrance to Loews Hotel, Collins Avenue, South Beach, Miami, Florida, United States of America

A luxury hotel company that was scheduled to host a February fundraising event for Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley instead announced Saturday it has canceled the event, citing deep opposition to those who allegedly supported and incited the riot at the U.S. Capitol last week.

Loews Hotels announced the cancellation plans as Hawley was set to hold a Valentine's Day weekend re-election fundraiser at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

The company's statement on Saturday did not name any specific lawmakers as they expressed horror at both the deadly events and those who encouraged the violence.

"We are horrified and opposed to the events at the Capitol and all who supported and incited the actions. In light of those events and for the safety of our guests and team members, we have informed the host of the Feb. fundraiser that it will no longer be held at Loews Hotels," the New York City-based luxury hotel company tweeted from their official account Saturday.

We are horrified and opposed to the events at the Capitol and all who supported and incited the actions. In light of those events and for the safety of our guests and team members, we have informed the host of the Feb. fundraiser that it will no longer be held at Loews Hotels.
— Loews Hotels (@Loews_Hotels) January 16, 2021

An invitation to the now-canceled February gathering reportedly read: "Please join U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley for a fun-filled-family-friendly Orlando weekend event."

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Some Florida Democrats called out Loews for hosting the fundraiser involving Hawley at the time.

"Is @Loews_Hotels /@UniversalORL going to cancel this fundraiser being hosted by seditionist @HawleyMO in Orlando or are they going to just be chill with a treasonous politician who would rather see Democracy burn for his own political gain?" tweeted Orlando-area Democratic Representative Anna Eskamani.

Is @Loews_Hotels / @UniversalORL going to cancel this fundraiser being hosted by seditionist @HawleyMO in Orlando or are they going to just be chill with a treasonous politician who would rather see Democracy burn for his own political gain? https://t.co/5UZDlcLwwr
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) January 16, 2021

President Donald Trump and dozens of Republicans dubbed the "sedition caucus" had for weeks encouraged "wild" protests on January 6. Hawley and other GOP senators, including Ted Cruz of Texas, sought to challenge the election results in Congress. President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the election was ultimately certified.

Last week, Hawley lost a book deal and received several high-profile demands to resign in the wake of the mob riot that left five people dead. Despite the condemnation, Hawley recently defended himself in an op-ed piece for the Southeast Missourian.

"Some wondered why I stuck with my objection following the violence at the Capitol. The reason is simple: I will not bow to a lawless mob, or allow criminals to drown out the legitimate concerns of my constituents," he wrote.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who is widely viewed as the most conservative Democratic member of the Senate, suggested Friday that Hawley and Cruz's actions led to the "sedition" and "total insurrection."

Newsweek reached out to Hawley's office and Loews' corporate offices for reaction Saturday afternoon.

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