Top leaders condemned a Saturday attack on Minnesota Democratic lawmakers as party tensions boil across the country.
Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband were killed and State Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife were also shot multiple times in a “politically motivated” attack that was condemned by elected officials on both sides of the aisle.
“Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America,” President Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!” he added.
Attorney General Pam Bondi pledged to investigate the incident and prosecute those involved to the fullest extent under the law while GOP leaders wrote Saturday posts on social media echoing the president’s outrage.
“Horrified at the events unfolding in Minnesota. Kimberley and I are praying for the loved ones of the state lawmaker and her husband who were assassinated and the state senator and his wife who were also injured in this assassination attempt,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) wrote on X.
“Political violence has no place in our nation.”
Former Vice President Harris said she was “devastated by the loss of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in a horrifying act of violence” in a post on X.
“Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in our nation. Elected officials must be safe to do their job on behalf of the people. The hate and division that dominate our political discourse must end,” she added.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said, “Such horrific political violence has no place in our society, and every leader must unequivocally condemn it.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) shared an emotional statement during the Saturday briefing where he gave updates on the criminal investigation and mourned the loss of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a “dearest” friend.
“Out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended,” Walz wrote on X, in a follow up post after the briefing.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) urged protestors to stay home while also commending Hortman for her service to the state.
“Melissa was a good friend and we started in politics at the same time and were always there for each other. She was a true public servant to the core, dedicating her life to serving Minnesotans with integrity and compassion,” Klobuchar wrote.
“Melissa’s legacy will endure, but today we grieve deeply,” she added.
Authorities say Hortman and her husband were shot after opening the door for a man impersonating a police officer. State Sen. John Hoffman (D-Minn.) and his wife were shot under similar circumstances.
“We cannot tolerate allowing our political differences to explode into political violence that threatens our safety and our democratic form of government,” Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said in a post on X.
Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Minn) said the Saturday deaths left her “devastated” by the heinous crime while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said the tragedies were “deeply disturbing” and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called in an “assault on democracy.”
“We must give hate and extremism no safe harbor and we must all unite against political violence as a nation,” former President Biden said on X.
DNC Chair Ken Martin also pleaded for peace.
“This senseless violence must end. These heinous murders are a reflection of the extremism and political violence that have been fomented in our country,” Martin said in a statement sent to The Hill.
“Lawmakers should be able to do their job without fear for their lives.
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