- Lawmakers played footage of Republican Sen.
Josh Hawley running on January 6. - According to the
January 6 committee , Hawley was sprinting away as rioters breached the building.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley fled during the attack on the Capitol just like the rest of his colleagues, the House January 6 committee pointed out in a juxtaposition between the famous photo of the Missouri Republican raising his fist to protesters compared to a new security camera video showing him sprinting to safety.
"Senator Josh Hawley also had to flee," said Rep. Elaine Luria, a Virginia Democrat, who is helping lead Thursday's hearing. "Earlier that afternoon before the joint session started he walked across the East Front of the Capitol, as you can see in this photo, he raised his fist in solidarity with the protesters already amassing at the security gates."
The panel then played previously undisclosed Capitol security footage showing Hawley, circled in case viewers didn't recognize him, running away. There was audible laughter in the hearing room as the footage was played.
"Later that day, Senator Hawley fled after those protesters he helped rile up stormed the Capitol," Luria said. "See for yourself."
—The Recount (@therecount) July 22, 2022
Hawley has repeatedly defended his actions on January 6, 2021, including his decision to encourage protesters by gesturing to them. A possible 2024 presidential candidate, the Missouri Republican's actions have received significant attention.
"Some of them were calling, so I gestured toward them," Hawley previously told The Washington Post, per the Hill. "They had every right to be there. … When I walked by that particular group of folks were standing there peacefully behind police barricades."
He has also condemned the fact that later in the day protesters violently stormed the Capitol. A spokesperson for Hawley did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Some of Hawley's own colleagues yelled at him as senators sheltered in place during the riot. The Post previously reported that Sen. Mitt Romney, the GOP's 2012 presidential nominee, yelled at Hawley.
"You have caused this!" Romney reportedly said.
Earlier this year, Hawley's campaign began using the fist-pumping photo on campaign swag.
"It is not a pro-riot mug,"Hawley told HuffPost. "This was not me encouraging rioters."