Latest news with #WorkforceDevelopmentBoard
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Mike Lee takes down controversial X posts after widespread criticism
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, participates in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on May 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah took down X posts Tuesday making an apparent connection between Gov. Tim Walz and the man accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, and blaming 'Marxists' for the murders. The change comes after blowback from Sen. Tina Smith and her staffers as well as Democratic and Republican state representatives. One X post said 'Nightmare on Waltz Street,' with pictures of Boelter, who is accused of killing Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in the early morning hours of June 14. Boelter also went to the homes of two other state lawmakers that night; one house empty, and at the other, a police officer pulled up to the house shortly after Boelter arrived, so Boelter left. Another post read, 'This is what happens When Marxists don't get their way,' with a picture of Boelter. Misinformation about Boelter's apparent connection to Walz has been circulating online since the murder. Walz reappointed Boelter to the Workforce Development Board after he was originally appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton, but Walz had no personal connection to Boelter. There have also been claims online that Boelter is a leftist, though his roommate told reporters that he is a Trump supporter. The changes to Lee's X feed come after a confrontation between Lee and Smith Monday at the U.S. Capitol. 'I wanted him to hear directly from me about how painful that was and how wrong that was,' Smith told the Star Tribune. Smith, who was a friend of Hortman's, said Lee did not apologize during their conversation. Ed Shelleby, Smith's deputy chief of staff, sent an email to Lee's staff condemning the senator's posts. 'You exploited the murder of a lifetime public servant and her husband to post some sick burns about Democrats. Did you see this as an excellent opportunity to get likes and retweet? Have you absolutely no conscience? No decency?' a copy of the email obtained by Semafor said. Several Minnesota Republicans also condemned Lee's posts. 'I have tremendous respect for Senator Mike Lee, but it doesn't mean he is immune from the base impulses social media incentivizes. People say stupid stuff on the internet all the time. The best they can do is admit they shouldn't have and be better,' Rep. Nolan West, R-Blaine, wrote on X. He later responded to his post saying, 'Respect rescinded.' 'This has nothing to do with Governor Walz,' Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, posted on X. In separate press conferences Monday, both state and federal officials addressed the misinformation that has been circulating online about the assassination. 'As our community grieves, I encourage those out there seeking to create additional chaos to stop spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories,' Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Minnesota Reformer maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor J. Patrick Coolican for questions: info@ SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michael Steele Slams Trump, Mike Lee With Damning Questions About Minnesota Remarks
MSNBC host Michael Steele, a former chair of the Republican National Committee, excoriated President Donald Trump and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Tuesday over their 'astounding' insensitivity following the assassination of Minnesota Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband over the weekend. 'It just is astounding to me, the level of immaturity, insensitivity and lack of empathy between Senator Lee and, of course, President Trump, who said, 'I don't need to talk to … [Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz], he's a mess,'' Steele said on 'The Weeknight.' 'Who do these people represent?' he added. 'Is this who we are in this country now?' When reporters asked the president Tuesday if he had called Walz yet to discuss the incident, he said the Democrat is 'slick' and 'whacked out.' Trump, who vowed last year to be president 'for all of America, not half of America,' then plainly refused. 'I'm not calling him,' he said aboard Air Force One. The Hortmans were fatally shot early Saturday at their Minnesota home by a gunman impersonating a police officer. Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, were also shot multiple times at their home. The latter couple has since undergone surgery. A suspect wanted in the attack was later identified as 57-year-old Vance Boelter and was arrested Sunday after a manhunt. Lee had shared several social media posts in the meantime, baselessly suggesting Boelter was into 'Marxism' and part of the political left. 'Is this what we do?' Steele asked Tuesday about Lee's and Trump's comments. 'We've gone through 9/11. We've gone through COVID. We've gone through trials and tribulations as a country. We've watched individuals suffer, and we've rallied to them in the past.' Lee had also shared an image of the suspect at a victim's door, writing: 'Nightmare on Waltz Street.' Boelter was appointed in 2019 by Walz's office to the Governor's Workforce Development Board, but was also an apparent conservative who attended Trump rallies. 'I don't understand what this says now,' Steele said during Tuesday's discussion. 'What are we saying about ourselves, when our leaders — a United States senator and a president of the United States — act like a damn 2-year-old?' Steele went on to wager that the Republicans in question are plain 'insensitive, just not realizing what their words mean and the impact that they're having,' and 'really don't seem to care.' One of his co-hosts went even further with Steele's prior point about immaturity. 'I think there are some 2-year-olds that actually have more decency than the president of the United States and the senator from Utah have exhibited in this moment,' said Symone Sanders Townsend. Lee has since deleted many of the social media posts. Tina Smith's Face-To-Face With 'Shocked' Mike Lee Is A Proven Way To Confront A Bully Sen. Mike Lee Backtracks After Deranged Tweets About Minnesota Assassination 'What The F**k Is Wrong With That Guy?': Jon Stewart Shames Senator For 'Depravity'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dem Assassin Is ‘Strong Trump Supporter' Best Friend Reveals
The suspected assassin who ambushed a Minnesota state senator and lawmaker in a deadly attack was a 'strong' supporter of President Donald Trump, his roommate revealed. David Carlson told reporters Saturday that suspected killer Vance L. Boelter voted fro the MAGA president last year. The revelation came after Republicans such as Elon Musk painted Boelter, who was appointed to Governor Walz's Workforce Development Board in 2019, as a violent leftist—despite his pro-life views and his plans to target dozens of Democratic leaders. Boelter and his wife, who was detained for questioning on Saturday, were registered Republicans while living in Oklahoma in the early 2000s, according to public records. However, Minnesota does not require people to select a party when registering to vote. Carlson told CNN that he received a text message from Boelter around 6 a.m. on Saturday, hours after he allegedly gunned down Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home in Brooklyn Park and critically wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their home in Champlin. Hoffman and his wife underwent surgery for multiple gun shot wounds, CBS reported. 'I just want to let you know that I love you guys both,' Boelter allegedly said in a text, according to Carlson. Boelter added, 'I don't want to say anything more and implicate you in any way, because you, you guys don't know anything about this. But I love you guys, and I'm sorry for all the trouble this has caused.' BBC reported that Boelter traded gunfire with police at Hortman's home but managed to escape. Gov. Tim Walz called the attack a 'politically motivated assassination' amid reports that Boelter allegedly compiled a list of other potential Democratic targets, including Walz and House Rep. Ilhan Omar, and local health care facilities. Yet Carlson described Boelter to local news outlets as a 'loving, caring guy' who 'loved his family, loved his friends, loved God'—but also someone who was struggling to find work and 'needed help,' according to CNN. 'Maybe things didn't work out and he just gave up and decided to go out in the blaze of glory,' Carlson said. 'I have no idea what he was thinking.' Carlson said he reported Boelter's text messages to authorities shortly after receiving them. Carlson added, 'It's just it's not Vance. ... He had lots of friends, trust me, and I wish I could have been there to stop him.' The FBI has launched a manhunt for Boelter, who is still considered armed and dangerous, and Trump said on Saturday that Attorney General Pam Bondi was leading the investigation.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Mike Lee takes down X posts after widespread criticism
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 13: U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-UT, participates in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on May 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Committee met to examining pharmacy benefit managers and competition issues in the prescription drug supply chain. (Photo by) Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah took down X posts Tuesday making an apparent connection between Gov. Tim Walz and the man accused of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, and blaming 'Marxists' for the murders. The change comes after blowback from Sen. Tina Smith and her staffers as well as Minnesota Democratic and Republican lawmakers. One X post said 'Nightmare on Waltz Street,' with pictures of Boelter, who is accused of killing Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and shooting Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in the early morning hours of June 14. Boelter also went to the homes of two other state lawmakers that night; one house was empty, and at the other, a police officer pulled up to the house shortly after Boelter arrived, so Boelter left. Another Lee post read, 'This is what happens When Marxists don't get their way,' with a picture of Boelter. Misinformation about Boelter's apparent connection to Walz has been circulating online since the killing. Walz reappointed Boelter to the Workforce Development Board — one of hundreds of nonpartisan boards and commissions — after he was originally appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton, but Walz had no personal connection to Boelter. There have also been claims online that Boelter is a leftist, though his roommate told reporters that he is a Trump supporter. The changes to Lee's X feed come after a confrontation between Lee and Smith Monday at the U.S. Capitol. 'I wanted him to hear directly from me about how painful that was and how wrong that was,' Smith told the Star Tribune. Smith, who was a friend of Hortman's, said Lee did not apologize during their conversation. Ed Shelleby, Smith's deputy chief of staff, sent an email to Lee's staff condemning the senator's posts. 'You exploited the murder of a lifetime public servant and her husband to post some sick burns about Democrats. Did you see this as an excellent opportunity to get likes and retweets? Have you absolutely no conscience? No decency?' a copy of the email obtained by Semafor said. Several Minnesota Republicans also condemned Lee's posts. 'I have tremendous respect for Senator Mike Lee, but it doesn't mean he is immune from the base impulses social media incentivizes. People say stupid stuff on the internet all the time. The best they can do is admit they shouldn't have and be better,' Rep. Nolan West, R-Blaine, wrote on X. He later responded to his post, writing, 'Respect rescinded.' 'This has nothing to do with Governor Walz,' Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, posted on X. In separate press conferences Monday, both state and federal officials addressed the misinformation that has been circulating online about the assassination. 'As our community grieves, I encourage those out there seeking to create additional chaos to stop spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories,' Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said.
France 24
5 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
What to know about the man accused of shooting two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers
The man accused of killing a Minnesota Democrat and wounding another went to the homes of two other legislators on the night of the shootings and intended to inflict more carnage, a federal prosecutor said Monday. But one of the other state lawmakers was on vacation and the suspect left the other house after police arrived early Saturday, acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson said at a press conference. The suspect, Vance Boelter, meticulously planned the attacks, carrying out surveillance missions, taking notes on the homes and people he targeted and disguising himself as a police officer just before the shootings, Thompson said. 'It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares,' he said. What charges does the suspect face? Boelter has now been charged with murder after police arrested him Sunday near his home following a nearly two-day search. Authorities say he also shot Senator John Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife Yvette at their home in the nearby neighbourhood of Champlin. The Hoffmans were attacked first at their home in Champlin early Saturday. A state criminal complaint indicated their adult daughter called 911 to say a masked person had come to the door and shot her parents. Hoffman is chair of the Senate committee overseeing human resources spending. The couple is currently recovering from multiple gunshot wounds. Hoffman also served on a state workforce development board with Boelter, who was twice appointed to the Minnesota Governor's Workforce Development Board. It was not clear if or how well the two men knew each other. Here's what to know: Boelter, 57, now faces both federal and state murder charges. Minnesota does not have the death penalty. Federal law allows it to be imposed, but Thompson said that it's too early to say whether his office with seek the death penalty. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said during a news conference that she plans to file first-degree murder charges against Boelter. First-degree murder covers premeditated killings, and the punishment for a conviction is life in prison without parole. Thompson said that Boelter planned his attacks carefully, researching intended victims and their families and conducting surveillance of their homes. Besides murder, the federal charges against him include stalking. Boelter also went to the homes of two other Democratic state lawmakers, Thompson said, but one was not home and he encountered local police conducting a welfare check at the other because of the Hoffmans' shooting. 01:28 Personal life and beliefs Authorities on Sunday spotted an abandoned vehicle that Boelter had been using in rural Sibley County, where he lived. An officer reported he believed he saw Boelter running into the woods, police said. Police called in 20 different tactical teams to search for him. During the search, police said they confirmed someone was in the woods and searched for hours, using a helicopter and officers on foot, until they found Boelter. He surrendered to police, crawling out to officers in the woods before he was handcuffed, authorities said. The search for Boelter was the 'largest manhunt in the state's history", Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. Boelter is a married father with five children who owns a sprawling 3,800-square-foot house about an hour from downtown Minneapolis, the AP reported. Friends and former colleagues interviewed describe Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church. His roommate described him as a " strong" supporter of President Donald Trump. He held deeply religious and politically conservative views, telling a congregation in Africa two years ago that the US was in a 'bad place' where most churches didn't oppose abortion. Videos online of Boelter show him preaching about sexuality in Africa. But his friends also say that he didn't talk about politics often and didn't seem extreme. 'He was right-leaning politically but never fanatical, from what I saw, just strong beliefs,' Paul Schroeder, who has known Boelter for years, told the AP. Second shooting After police in nearby Brooklyn Park learned that a lawmaker had been shot, they sent patrol officers to check on the Hortmans' home. Brooklyn Park police officers arrived just in time to see Boelter shoot Mark Hortman through the open door of the home, the complaint says. It says they exchanged gunfire with Boelter, who fled inside the home before escaping the scene. Melissa Hortman was found dead inside, the state complaint said. Suspect in custody after shooting of Minnesota lawmakers while posing as officer 01:46 Authorities did not give a motive as they announced Boelter's arrest. Thompson said a list of about 45 names of Minnesota state and federal elected officials were found in writings recovered from a fake police vehicle left at the crime scene and that some names appeared more than once. Authorities also have said the list included community leaders, along with abortion-rights advocates and information about health care facilities, according to the officials. A Minnesota official told the AP that lawmakers who had been outspoken in favour of abortion rights were on the list. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. Melissa Hortman was a lifelong Minneapolis-area resident who rose up to become a powerful Democratic leader in the state's deeply divided Legislature. Elected to the Minnesota House in 2004, she helped pass liberal initiatives like free lunches for public school students in 2023 as the chamber's speaker. This year, she helped break a budget impasse that threatened to shut down state government.
