Scathing Lincoln Project Ad Blasts Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley for Capitol Riot: 'This Is Your Coup'

Alexandra Hutzler of Newsweek wrote:The Lincoln Project, a conservative super PAC opposed to President Donald Trump, is taking aim at Republicans who challenged the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's electoral victory after the U.S. Capitol riot.

"This is your coup," a narrator said in an ad's 30-second clip. "This is your siege. This is your insurrection. With your support for Donald Trump you have brought this shame to America."

The narrator then specifically calls out Senators Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), as well as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California). The video features photographs of all three Republicans mixed with photographs from the Capitol assault on January 6.

"You supported this and you will be held accountable. This disgrace is all yours," the ad said.

Newsweek reached out to the offices of all three lawmakers for comment on the ad but did not receive responses in time for publication.

Thousands of Trump supporters gathered in Washington, D.C., last Wednesday to protest the congressional certification of Biden's victory. After a "Stop the Steal" rally where the president and his supporters continued to make baseless allegations of election fraud, a mob of protesters clashed with federal police and breached the U.S. Capitol. Five people died in the riot, including one law enforcement officer.

In the days since the insurrection, Cruz, Hawley and McCarthy have all been criticized for their role in spreading Trump's unsubstantiated claims that there was widespread voter fraud and irregularities in the presidential race. All three lawmakers were among the 147 Republican members who supported at least one objection to counting Biden's electoral votes during a joint session of the House and Senate.

Many of the conservative members of Congress who objected to Biden's win are facing calls to resign and boycotts from some of America's largest corporations. Hallmark has even asked Hawley to return the donations made by its political action committee.

One of Hawley's home state newspapers declared that the junior senator has "blood on his hands." The Kansas City Star editorial board wrote in its rebuke that "Hawley's actions in the last week had such impact that he deserves an impressive share of the blame for the blood that's been shed."

Cruz has faced calls to resign from Texas newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News. The latter's editorial board wrote, "If we seek a turning point in support of democracy, then those who have damaged it must be sanctioned and repudiated."

Biden, who will be sworn into office on January 20, said Hawley and Cruz were part of "the big lie" that animated Trump's false assertions that the election was rigged and stolen from him by the Democrats.

"I think they should just be flat beaten the next time they run," Biden said when asked if the two senators should resign.