Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith Confronts Utah Sen. Mike Lee Over Shooting Posts

Following the assassination of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Democratic Sen. Tina Smith confronted Republican Sen. Mike Lee over his social media posts that falsely labeled the suspect as a Marxist. Lee's posts came despite evidence showing the shooter, Vance Boelter, held conservative views and voted for President Trump. Smith, a friend of Hortman, sought Lee out on the Senate floor to express the pain his comments caused and to demand accountability, though Lee did not apologize and appeared surprised by the confrontation. The incident highlights increasing political tensions and misinformation surrounding violent acts against lawmakers, with other Democrats condemning Lee's actions and calling for a more responsible discourse. Security concerns have also been raised, as threats against members of Congress continue to rise. Smith emphasized the need for direct dialogue to address the harm caused by such divisive rhetoric.