Republican Senator Mike Lee has drawn significant criticism after making controversial social media posts regarding the assassination of Minnesota Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.
The couple was tragically killed at their Minnesota home by a masked gunman posing as a police officer.
In the wake of the attack, Lee posted alarming messages on social media that were perceived as politicizing the tragedy.
His first post read, “This is what happens When Marxists don’t get their way,” followed by another captioned, “Nightmare on Waltz street,” which many interpreted as blaming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the violence.
Governor Walz described the incident as an “act of targeted political violence,” raising concerns about the impact of such rhetoric from elected officials.
As criticism mounted, Lee deleted the posts by Tuesday afternoon.
At a Capitol press conference, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar mentioned she had a conversation with Lee regarding the posts but did not confirm whether her discussion led to their removal.
Klobuchar stated, “Senator Lee and I had a good discussion, and I’m very glad he took it down,” emphasizing the severity of the situation in her state.
She noted that many residents were left feeling unsafe and locked in their homes during the aftermath of the tragic events.
Lee acknowledged his brief conversation with Klobuchar while speaking to reporters but did not provide further details about his motivations for removing the posts.
Democrats across the aisle promptly condemned Lee’s rhetoric as unacceptable.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin criticized the behavior on the Senate floor, stating, “To attempt to politicize this tragedy is absolutely unacceptable.
This rhetoric from elected officials is beyond dangerous and incites even more violence.
It is reprehensible, and it must be called out — on both sides of the aisle.”
Similarly, Democratic Representative Hillary Scholten expressed her disapproval during an interview on ABC News Live, proclaiming, “Shame, shame on you, senator.
You know better than that.”
Scholten also urged her Republican colleagues to join her in uniting against such rhetoric, emphasizing the need to condemn violence without regard for party affiliation.
Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele also weighed in, telling Lee to “grow the hell up” in a post on X, further igniting the discourse surrounding the incident.
Ignoring questions from reporters about the posts as he left a meeting at the Capitol, Lee stepped back from the spotlight while the controversy played out in the media.
Following the attack, there has been a swift and widespread backlash from both Democrats and Republicans, with calls to reduce the tone of political discourse.
Klobuchar condemned the violence, labeling it as a reflection of a troubling climate in which such attacks can occur.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also joined the conversation, saying that “such horrific political violence has no place in our society, and every leader must unequivocally condemn it.”
As this incident continues to unfold, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for a more civil political atmosphere.
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