In commemoration of the third anniversary of the January 6th Capitol riot, a leading Missouri newspaper, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, published a scathing op-ed targeting Senator Josh Hawley. The op-ed titled "Jan. 6 showed that, yes, it could happen here. The voters must not let it," criticized Hawley for his role in questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election results.

The op-ed highlighted that many have held former President Donald Trump responsible for inciting the riot through his rhetoric. The Department of Justice has brought criminal charges against Trump in connection with his election interference efforts that fueled the unrest. However, Trump maintains his innocence and remains a frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

Senator Hawley, along with numerous congressional Republicans, played a prominent role in disputing the certification of the 2020 presidential election. Hawley's iconic image, in which he raised his fist in solidarity with Trump supporters as he entered the U.S. Capitol, became synonymous with the chaotic events of that day.

The op-ed chastised Hawley for working to legitimize Trump's false claims of widespread election fraud, stating that his objection to the ballot results forced Congress to debate the unquestionable legitimacy of President Joe Biden's victory. The editorial board placed blame on Hawley and other Republicans for attempting to disenfranchise millions of Americans by blocking the certification of valid election results.

While Trump held a rally in Iowa on Friday to mark the anniversary, continuing to espouse his baseless claims of election theft, President Joe Biden delivered a speech in Pennsylvania dismissing these lies. Biden warned that reelecting Trump would pose a significant threat to American democracy.

The op-ed also noted that many House Republicans refused to participate in the successful impeachment vote against Trump, while the Republican-controlled Senate subsequently refused to convict him. The piece concluded by emphasizing that Trump's culpability is evident, but he is not alone, as numerous Republicans in both houses of Congress, including Hawley, played a role in undermining the democratic process.

Newsweek reached out to Senator Hawley's office for comment on the op-ed, but no response has been received so far. FBI Director Christopher Wray also denied the claims that the Capitol riot was orchestrated by the FBI or Antifa, reaffirming that the violence on January 6th was not part of any coordinated operation.

As the nation reflects on the events of the Capitol riot three years later, the op-ed serves as a reminder of the deep divisions that persist within the Republican Party and the ongoing debate over the integrity of the 2020 election.