Sen. Jeff Merkley Blames Trump for MN Lawmaker Shootings: ‘Profoundly Disturbing’

A Democratic senator is placing blame squarely on President Donald Trump for hateful rhetoric that may have inspired a man to shoot two Minnesota lawmakers in their homes over the weekend — one fatally.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) was direct when asked by CNN’s John Berman how he would describe the “political atmosphere in this country” following the shootings of State Rep. Melissa Hortman, the former Speaker of the Minnesota House, State Sen. John Hoffman, and their spouses.

Merkley said Trump’s rhetoric has fueled the vitriol that led to the carnage in Minnesota:

“I feel like Trump has really popped the lid off of the rhetoric and the sense of hate and violence and promoted this type of an environment. It’s profoundly disturbing for all of us. We have seen increased threats across the country. You’re probably familiar with the pizza threats. We’ve seen more of that, where pizzas or other food is delivered to people’s families that they haven’t ordered, just to say from the right wing, we know who you are. We know where you live. I can tell you all of our families feel a greatly heightened sense. And just — let me just say, my heart goes out to the families in Minnesota. How horrific — horrific for the whole — whole country, but particularly we’re holding the folks in Minnesota in our hearts.”

Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were both killed while Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were wounded and are now recovering in the hospital.

The suspect in the shootings, Vance Boelter, was apprehended Sunday night near his home after what Minnesota authorities called the “largest manhunt in state history.” He’s been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.

Cops have recovered a 70-target “hit list” allegedly written by Boelter, which includes Democratic lawmakers like Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Ilhan Omar.

Watch above via CNN.