Dick Durbin Takes Swipe At Mike Lee Over Social Media Posts Claiming Minnesota Shooter Was A Leftist

Forbes Breaking News

During remarks on the Senate floor Monday, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) criticized Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) for his series of posts about the suspect in the Minnesota shootings.

Transcript

00:00As a Democratic whip. Are we in a quorum call? Here we are. Asking unanimous consent to be suspended.

00:05Without objection. Mr. President, over the weekend, while most of the country slept,

00:10a gunman targeted two Minnesota state legislators in their homes. He pretended to be a police officer

00:17and he gunned down Democratic state legislator John Hoffman and his wife. Fortunately,

00:23they survived and are recovering from surgery and reportedly in stable condition.

00:29We pray for State Senator Hoffman and his wife's full recovery.

00:34Then the gunman attacked another Democratic state legislator with over 20 years of service.

00:39Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.

00:45She and her husband leave behind two children.

00:49These killings are not only horrifying for Minnesota, but a tragedy for America.

00:53This heinous act of political violence defies American values and democracy.

01:01Unfortunately, we've seen a disturbing increase in political violence in recent years,

01:07seemingly as part of a misguided and sickening attempt to strike fear and intimidation in the hearts

01:12of the American people and those who are engaged in public service.

01:17Violence and hate have no place in America.

01:22Leaders on both sides of the aisle must speak out and condemn these violent acts.

01:27I've said this repeatedly. It bears repeating.

01:31Political violence from the right or the left is never, never acceptable.

01:37It is never the answer.

01:38We must condemn these violent acts when they happen, but we also must speak out against

01:43the radical language we see online and even language coming from our colleagues.

01:49One member of this body tweeted a picture of the Minnesota shooter and wrote,

01:54This is what happens when Marxists don't get their way.

01:57End of quote.

01:58He tweeted another picture of the shooter and wrote,

02:01Nightmare on Waltz Street.

02:04Apparently an attempt to blame Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the shooting.

02:09Another one of my colleagues from the other side of the aisle tweeted around the shooting,

02:13Quote,

02:14The degree to which the extreme left has become radical, violent, and intolerant is stunning and terrifying.

02:21To attempt to politicize this tragedy is absolutely unacceptable.

02:26This rhetoric from elected officials is beyond dangerous and incites even more violence.

02:33It is reprehensible and it must be called out on both sides of the aisle.

02:37Both sides of the aisle.

02:39Because in the land of the free and the home of the brave,

02:42everyone should feel expressing their political views,

02:45and we must never do so in a way that condones violence or intimidation.

02:50I pray for Minnesota during this heartbreaking time

02:53and vow to continue to denounce and combat political violence of any kind.

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