After a senator’s posts about the Minnesota shootings, his incensed colleagues refused to let it go
Washington (AP) – Mike Lee In recent years, it has become one of the Senate’s most productive social media posters, its presence has been seen in thousands of tasks, usually about politics late at night. The senators accustomed to Utah Republican’s Pugnacious online personality and often brushed them in the name of colleagues.
So, until last week.
Duties after June 14 deadly firing A Minnesota deputy and her husband hired Lee’s colleagues, especially senators who were friends with victims. As the MPs confront once again, they were added to the loaded atmosphere in Capitol. political violence In America.
While the Senate gathered during the week, you. Tina Smith, D-Minn., A journalist’s crowd and set out towards the level of the Senate: “I can’t talk right now, I have to find Lee.”
Smith, whose Name is Listed Notebooks of the suspect shooter Lee, who was rescued by law enforcement officers, spoke for a few minutes. The next day, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. He did the same thing. Mid -Tuesday, Lee did not delete their tweets.
Smith said later that he looked surprised by he said to journalists, he said.
Shooting is developing
On the morning of June 14, Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn. Another Democratic Deputy, State Senate John Hoffman and his wife Yette were critically injured for firing in their nearby homes.
The next day, while the police search for the shooter, Lee published a photo of the alleged shooter in 2024 with the title “Nightmare on Waltz Street, which was a mis -written attempt to shift towards Walz, the vice president of his party.
In a separate shipment in his personal account, the senator shared the photos of the alleged suspect next to his subtitles: “This happens when the Marxists did not enter the path.”
In his official Senate social media account, Lee said, “He condemned this meaningless violence and prayed for victims and their families”.
Lee spokesman did not respond to the request request.
The man was arrested, 57 -year -old Vance Luther Boelter had deeply and politically conservative views. After moving to Minnesota about ten years ago, Boelter was first volunteered for a position on a state labor development committee appointed by Gov. In 2016, Democrat Mark Dayton and later Walz.
It became boelter loaded With two murders and attempted murder.
Lee’s Online Publications are drawing a two -party reaction
Lee, once a critic of Donald Trump, has been one of the most loyal allies of the president since then. Lee’s online personality was well established, but this year, it was particularly prominent: Salt Lake Tribune Analysis In the first three months of 2025, Lee found about 100 articles per day in X.
This time, what was different was that the recoil came from the democrats only.
Senator Kevin Cramer, RN.D., Lee’s posts “at least, inappropriate, certainly” and “not true”.
“I think when you run to such a judgment, when your political instincts come into play during a tragedy, you should probably reorganize some priorities,” he said.
Republican State Representative Nolan West wrote that his respect for Lee was “canceled” on social media.
Senate majority leader John Thune, RS.D. The spokesman did not respond to the request for comments.
Last Monday night, after Smith confronted Lee, he sent a sharp message to Lee’s office of a senior member of his staff.
“It is important for your office to know how much additional pain you have caused for a terrible weekend of your office, Ed Smith’s Deputy Chief of General Staff Ed Shelleby. “I pray for starting to see the people you work with in this building as your colleagues and people.”
Lee avoided journalists in most of the week, but said that he had deleted posts after a “fast ör discussion with Klobucar. Lee didn’t apologize to everyone.
“We had a good discussion and I am very pleased that it downloaded it.” He said.
Tragedy wants reflection at the congress
The turmoil came at a tense time for the Senate, which gives fashion as a political institution that values him and values respect.
Senators are in great pressure to react to Trump administration. FAST TIME AGENDA And multiple global conflicts. Republicans have high -betting negotiations on the party’s tax and expenditure deductions plan. Democrats are worried about how the administration will face especially after federal agents. Briefly taken into custody you Alex Padilla, D-Calif., In a recent internal security department News conference In California.
MPs believe that it is time to reduce the temperature.
“I don’t know why Mike reduced the comments, but that was the right thing to do, Dn Dn.m. You. I’m Ray Luján. Orum I appreciate my Republican colleagues who are very clear with their observations. And those who speak I want to appreciate them. ”
“We all have to talk to each other. And what I have learned from this week is that people should lean more and only to know each other.”
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Associated Press reporter Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
