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Indian American lawmakers condemn Minnesota lawmaker killings
President Donald Trump also condemned the violence, calling it “terrible.”
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Malvika Choudhary - Sat, 14, Jun 2025
- 14:06 EDT
- 27
(Above from L-R) Pramila Jayapal, Shri Thanedar, Suhas Subramanyam, Ro Khanna. (Below From L-R) Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ravi Bhalla, Vivek Ramaswamy / Wikipedia
Indian American lawmakers condemned the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife on June 14.
In the wake of the violence, which has been dubbed a “politically motivated attack,” Indian American leaders expressed shock and sorrow.
Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) called the killings horrific and unacceptable. “My heart goes out to their families, the communities they represent, and all of MN. Every one of us must condemn political violence that threatens everything our democracy stands for,” she wrote on X.
Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI) said, “The nation is waking up to terrible news this morning. My deepest prayers are with the families of the two lawmakers shot. Political violence like this has no place in our nation and must be unequivocally condemned.”
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) said he was “horrified” by the shootings. “Political violence has no place in America. Today I am praying for their families, Minnesota, and our entire nation,” he wrote.
Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) said, “I’m horrified by the murder of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. This is a tragedy for Minnesota and our nation. Praying for Senator John Hoffman and his wife’s recovery.”
Virginia representative Suhas Subramanyam said the shootings reflect a disturbing trend. “There is no justification for violence ever, and this follows a disturbing trend of political violence,” he said.
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said, “Political violence is never acceptable in America — period. We hope the perpetrator is held fully accountable under the law. Very sad to hear that Representative Hortman and her husband lost their life. Our condolences to their family.”
Ravi Bhalla, mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, called the incident deeply troubling. “Political violence has no place in a civil society. We must resolve our differences peacefully,” he said.
Shasti Conrad, chair of the Washington State Democratic Party, also denounced the killings. “My heart goes out to Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband’s family and all who loved them,” she said. “Also praying for the recovering of Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Political acts of violence must be condemned and freedom of speech and assembly must be protected.”
In her statement, Conrad wrote, “Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman is gone, taken by an assailant who pretended to be there to protect and serve their community. Her husband, also gone by gun violence. State Senator John Hoffman, wounded. His spouse, in hospital care from a gunshot wound.”
She added, “These cowardly acts of violence are an attack on the right to speak freely about what we believe is right. We must preserve freedom of speech in this country, or all will be lost.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the shootings were a “targeted political attack.” He confirmed that Rep. Hortman, a former House Speaker, and her husband were killed at their home, and that Senator Hoffman and his wife were wounded earlier the same evening in Champlin. The Hoffmans remain in critical condition following surgery, and Walz said he is “cautiously optimistic” about their recovery.
The suspect, who was disguised as a police officer, fled after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement. A statewide search is underway, and authorities say a manifesto found in the suspect’s abandoned vehicle listed other public officials as potential targets.
President Donald Trump also condemned the violence, calling it a “terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota” and adding, “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America.”
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