Republican Sen. Mike Lee is going through criticism over his social media posts concerning the assassination of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband — with one Democratic senator calling the posts “reprehensible.”
On Sunday night time — a day after a masked gunman disguised as a police officer shot and killed Democratic State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark at their Minnesota house — the Utah Republican made posts referencing the assault and that includes photographs of Vance Boelter, the suspect within the taking pictures.
The primary publish was captioned “That is what occurs When Marxists do not get their approach” and the second says “Nightmare on Waltz avenue,” seemingly blaming Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for the shootings — which the governor known as an “act of focused political violence.” The posts have now been deleted from his account.
Hours later, on his official Senate account, Lee condemned the assaults.
“These hateful assaults don’t have any place in Utah, Minnesota, or wherever in America. Please be a part of me in condemning this mindless violence, and praying for the victims and their households,” Lee wrote.
Sen. Mike Lee participates in a Senate Judiciary Committee listening to on the Dirksen Senate Workplace Constructing, Could 13, 2025.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Pictures
Lee’s posts prompted speedy backlash from Democrats who condemned Lee for making them.
“To aim to politicize this tragedy is completely unacceptable. This rhetoric from elected officers is past harmful and incites much more violence,” Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin stated on the Senate flooring Monday. “It’s reprehensible, and it have to be known as out — on each side of the aisle — each side of the aisle. As a result of within the land of the free and the house of the courageous, everybody ought to really feel secure expressing their political opinions — and we must not ever accomplish that in a approach that condones violence or intimidation.”
Former RNC Chair Michael Steele instructed Lee to “develop the hell up” in a post on X.
A memorial is seen on the desk of DFL State Rep. Melissa Hortman within the Home chambers on the Minnesota State Capitol, June 16, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Steven Garcia/Getty Pictures
Leaving a gathering on the Capitol Monday night time, Lee ignored questions from reporters concerning the posts. ABC Information has reached out to his workplace for remark.
The assaults have prompted swift condemnation from Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill and across the nation — with many urging elected officials to turn down heated rhetoric.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar condemned the “horrible assault” and stated on Sunday that “this can be a very dangerous setting, and we have to deliver the tone down.”
Home Speaker Mike Johnson stated “such horrific political violence has no place in our society, and each chief should unequivocally condemn it.”
