Top Missouri GOP donor Sam Fox disavows Hawley

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., walks into the House chamber before a joint session of the House and Senate convenes to count the electoral votes cast in November's election, at the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., walks into the House chamber before a joint session of the House and Senate convenes to count the electoral votes cast in November's election, at the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

KANSAS CITY (AP) - Top Missouri GOP donor Sam Fox is disavowing Sen. Josh Hawley over his Electoral College challenge that became the focus of a violent siege of the U.S. Capitol.

Fox said in a statement Friday to the Kansas City Star that Hawley had "engaged in an act of reckless pandering," and could forget about any future help.

That made Fox just the latest to expressing regret over supporting the Stanford- and Yale- educated lawyer since a mob took over the House and Senate chambers Wednesday. The lawmakers who were voting to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory were forced into hiding for hours.

Aside from President Donald Trump, who roiled up supporters just before they stormed the Capitol, no politician has been more publicly blamed for Wednesday's unprecedented assault on American democracy than Hawley.

Former Missouri Sen. John Danforth told the Associated Press on Thursday that supporting Hawley was "the worst decision I've ever made in my life." Hawley also was subjected to a harsh rebuke from megadonor businessman David Humphreys.

Hawley, though, has been defiant in the days since the riot as he's railed against his publisher for canceling his book and brushed off the mounting calls for his resignation.

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