Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., publicly addressed Republican Sen. Mike Lee regarding his controversial social media posts about a recent shooting that resulted in the deaths of Minnesota lawmaker Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Lee’s posts included a photo of the shooting suspect, Vance Boelter, along with a comment implying political implications, stating, “this is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way.” Smith expressed her outrage, highlighting the pain these comments caused to her and others grieving the loss, emphasizing the need for Lee to understand the impact of his words.
The shooting, described as a “politically motivated assassination,” also injured Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. Authorities found disturbing content in Boelter’s car, including lists of over 45 elected officials’ names, raising concerns among Democratic Congress members.
Lee’s posts led to backlash from various Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Amy Klobuchar. When asked about Smith’s confrontation, Lee declined to comment, and an aide attempted to shield him from media inquiries.
In a follow-up email to Lee’s office, Smith’s deputy chief of staff, Ed Shelleby, criticized Lee for using his Senate position to amplify grief and perpetuate cruelty. Shelleby questioned Lee’s priorities, accusing him of exploiting a tragedy to mock Democrats. He expressed a wish for Lee’s team to empathize with colleagues as human beings and to extend compassion in times of crisis. The incident underscores ongoing political tensions and raises questions about decorum following acts of violence.
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