Stanford Alum Josh Hawley Vows Legal Fight Over Nixed Book Deal

STANFORD, CA — A Stanford graduate at the center of efforts to overturn the presidential election has lost a book deal.

Simon & Schuster cited Josh Hawley’s role in inciting rioters who stormed the Capitol Wednesday for its decision to cut ties with the 41-year-old Missouri senator.

Hawley called the decision "Orwellian," vowing to take the publisher to court.

Simon & Schuster had already been under pressure to drop Hawley’s upcoming book, “The Tyranny of Big Tech,” amid criticism of his role promoting President Donald Trump's baseless claims of election fraud.

The Kansas City Star rebuked Hawley in an editorial headlined: “Assault on democracy: Sen. Josh Hawley has blood on his hands in Capitol coup attempt”

The conservative firebrand was the first senator to announce he would challenge the Electoral College vote last week, a move that brought debate about certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s election to the senate floor.

“After witnessing the disturbing, deadly insurrection that took place on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Simon & Schuster has decided to cancel publication of Senator Josh Hawley’s forthcoming book, THE TYRANNY OF BIG TECH,” the publisher said in a statement.

“We did not come to this decision lightly. As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom.”

Hawley issued a statement on Twitter threatening legal action against the publisher.

“This could not be more Orwellian,” Hawley tweeted.

“Simon & Schuster is canceling my contract because I was representing my constituents, leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity, which they have now decided to redefine as sedition.

“Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute. It’s a direct assault on the First Amendment. Only approved speech can now be published. This is the Left looking to cancel everyone they don’t approve of. I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have. We’ll see you in court.”

Hawley graduated from Stanford with a BA in history in 2002 before attending Yale Law School.

He was elected to the senate in 2018, defeating centrist Democrat Claire McCaskill.