After uproar, Loews cancels fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley at Universal Orlando’s Portofino Bay hotel

Loews Hotels on Saturday canceled a planned fundraiser at its Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando for U. S. Sen. Josh Hawley, who spearheaded the objections to President-elect Biden’s win in Congress on Jan. 6.

Hawley. R-Missouri, was also shown in a photo raising his fist in solidarity with pro-Trump protesters on Capitol Hill prior to the violent assault on the Capitol building.

“We are horrified and opposed to the events at the Capitol and all who supported and incited the actions,” Loews said in a statement on Twitter. “In light of those events and for the safety of our guests and team members, we have informed the host of the Feb. fundraiser that it will no longer be held at Loews Hotels.”

The event was listed as being by a Hawley-affiliated political committee, Fighting for Missouri, which raised more than $272,000 for Hawley in the 2020 election cycle. Hawley does not face reelection until 2024.

“Please join U. S. Sen. Josh Hawley for a fun-filled-family-friendly Orlando weekend event” on Feb. 12 to 15, according to a flier obtained by Florida attorney Daniel Uhlfelder, who posted it on Twitter earlier Saturday.

The event was to cost $5,000 in contributions for a family, $3,000 for a couple and $1,000 for an individual, according to the flier.

“I think it’s totally inappropriate,” Uhlfelder, who last year dressed as the Grim Reaper to criticize Gov. Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 policy, said in an interview Saturday. “I guess he may be having problems raising money at this point …. So now he’s trying to promote some family-friendly event for $5,000 and you bring your family down and go to Universal in the middle of a pandemic, after [he’s] incited an insurrection? You can’t make this stuff up. I was shocked, I thought it was a joke.”

After Loews’ statement, Uhlfelder said the company “did the right thing. It’s good c... (Read more)

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