Democratic Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) said she "confronted" a MAGA colleague following his comments on social media blaming "Marxists" for Minnesota shootings over the weekend that resulted in the assassination of Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman.
Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot dead in their Brooklyn Park home by a suspect impersonating a police officer. Additionally, Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times at their home in neighboring Champlin. The state senator was critically wounded, but both survived after undergoing surgery.
Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested in a wooded area near his property Sunday evening following a massive manhunt in the state.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) reacted to the shootings by sharing controversial thoughts on his personal X account. On Sunday, he wrote, “This is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way.” In a separate post, he attacked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, writing “Nightmare on Waltz Street,” alongside images of the suspect.
His comments led to widespread outrage, and law enforcement and acquaintances of Boelter said he held staunchly conservative and religious views. A motive for the shootings wasn't immediately known.
Smith, who was a friend of Hortman, said she "confronted" Lee in a hallway off the Senate floor during evening votes, according to Politico.
“I wanted him to know how much pain that caused me and the other people in my state, and I think around the country, who think that this was a brutal attack,” Smith told reporters, according to the outlet. “I don’t know whether Senator Lee thought fully through what it was — you have to ask him — but I needed him to hear from me directly what impact I think his cruel statement had on me, his colleague.”
Smith said Lee "seemed a little surprised to be confronted."