GOP Senator Jeff Flake Shares Obama Called Him After Alexandria Shooting
- 7 years ago
Former President Obama has personally contacted one of the Republican lawmakers who was at the congressional baseball practice Wednesday when a gunman began shooting.
Former President Obama has personally contacted one of the Republican lawmakers who was at the congressional baseball practice Wednesday morning in Alexandria, Virginia, when a gunman began shooting.
U.S. Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona told CBS News later in the day that Obama had called him after seeing reports of the incident.
Flake told the news outlet, “He just said, 'I hope that this does bring more unity,' and he wanted me to pass on certainly his regards if he wasn't able to get to Steve or others before me that he was praying for their good health. It was a nice call.”
Republican Representative Steve Scalise was one of the victims of the incident, and, according to CNN, remains “in critical condition after surgery.”
Politico also reported on the call between Obama and Flake who had joined together in the aftermath of the 2011 shooting of then-Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford.
The publication adds that “Obama called no other lawmaker besides Flake and did so as a friend, according to a person familiar with the call. The former president and Flake did not talk about gun control or any policy issues, focusing only on the Republican senator's condition after the shooting.”
The paths of the two men have intersected in the past in other areas as well including when they took an official foreign visit to Africa together in 2015; additionally, both supported renewed diplomatic ties with Cuba.
President Trump, meanwhile, has also publicly expressed his sympathy for Scalise, tweeting that the Congressman, “...a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.”
CNN says that the wounded lawmaker, along with at least five other people, were hospitalized after the attack; the suspected gunman, 66-year-old James Hodgkinson, died from his injuries.
Former President Obama has personally contacted one of the Republican lawmakers who was at the congressional baseball practice Wednesday morning in Alexandria, Virginia, when a gunman began shooting.
U.S. Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona told CBS News later in the day that Obama had called him after seeing reports of the incident.
Flake told the news outlet, “He just said, 'I hope that this does bring more unity,' and he wanted me to pass on certainly his regards if he wasn't able to get to Steve or others before me that he was praying for their good health. It was a nice call.”
Republican Representative Steve Scalise was one of the victims of the incident, and, according to CNN, remains “in critical condition after surgery.”
Politico also reported on the call between Obama and Flake who had joined together in the aftermath of the 2011 shooting of then-Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford.
The publication adds that “Obama called no other lawmaker besides Flake and did so as a friend, according to a person familiar with the call. The former president and Flake did not talk about gun control or any policy issues, focusing only on the Republican senator's condition after the shooting.”
The paths of the two men have intersected in the past in other areas as well including when they took an official foreign visit to Africa together in 2015; additionally, both supported renewed diplomatic ties with Cuba.
President Trump, meanwhile, has also publicly expressed his sympathy for Scalise, tweeting that the Congressman, “...a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.”
CNN says that the wounded lawmaker, along with at least five other people, were hospitalized after the attack; the suspected gunman, 66-year-old James Hodgkinson, died from his injuries.