Pete Stauber Condemns 'Terrifying' Political Violence in Minnesota: 'We Are All Americans'

Forbes Breaking News

In House floor remarks on Tuesday, Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) spoke about the assassination of State Rep. Melissa Hortman and the attempted assassination of State Sen. John Hoffman.

Transcript

00:00The gentleman from Kentucky is recognized. Mr. Speaker, I yield three minutes to the gentleman

00:05from Minnesota, Mr. Staubert. The gentleman is recognized for three minutes. Thank you,

00:11Mr. Speaker. I rise today with a heavy heart to strongly condemn the recent attacks on Minnesota

00:17lawmakers and their families and denounce all forms of political violence. Earlier this month,

00:25a deranged gunman shocked the state of Minnesota and this entire nation by murdering Speaker Emerita

00:33Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and attempting to kill State Senator John Hoffman

00:39and his wife, Yvette. I'm absolutely devastated by this terrifying act of violence. While I didn't

00:47know Melissa Hortman personally, her reputation was that of a very dedicated public servant who

00:54cared deeply about our shared state and its peace people. I heard equally wonderful things

01:00about Mark Hortman, especially his deep devotion to his family. My heart aches for the Hortman's

01:07two children now left without parents, along with all their loved ones. At the same time,

01:15I continue to hold Senator Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in my prayers as they begin the long

01:22and difficult road toward healing. Their survival is nothing short of a miracle. And I thank God

01:29they remain with us today. I'm also thankful to all of our brave law enforcement officers in Minnesota,

01:36along with our federal partners who were able to locate and capture the killer, ending his brief reign of terror

01:46on our state. Without their quick response, there may have been many more victims. Thanks to their dedication

01:55and professionalism, justice will now be delivered. Make no mistake, this was not just an attack on the Hortman

02:05and Hoffman families. This was an attack on the state of Minnesota and our shared ideals as Americans.

02:14Political violence such as this threatens the very fabric of our constitutional republic and can never be ignored

02:22or met without condemnation. I am personally alarmed by the growing number of threats and attacks on public officials

02:29across the political spectrum in recent years. While we may have our differences, it is incumbent upon us all

02:36to ensure that disagreement never descends into violence. Now more than ever, we must remember

02:43that we are all Americans and what unites us is far more powerful than anything that might divide us.

02:51I am deeply, deeply grateful to Melissa Hortman, John Hoffman, and both of their families for everything

02:59they have contributed to our great state of Minnesota. I think one of the most powerful ways we can honor them

03:06is by standing united as Americans against this senseless attack and against all forms of political violence.

03:16I urge my colleagues to do so by supporting H-Res 519. Now yield back the balance of my time.

03:24The gentleman yields back. The gentleman from Kentucky Results.

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