Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is the latest progressive to appear to justify the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson after condemning his violent actions.
On Sunday's “Meet the Press,” Sanders was asked about Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren's controversial comments about Thompson's death.
“Violence never solves the problem. This man goes on trial for allegedly killing the CEO of UnitedHealth.”[care]But you can only push people so far, and then they start taking matters into their own hands,” Warren said.
In response to Warren's comments, Sanders similarly appeared to offer an explanation for the killing after initially condemning the violence.
Sen. Bernie Sanders condemned the violence against UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but warned that public anger toward the health care industry is “growing.” (Screenshot from NBC)
Elizabeth Warren says UnitedHealthcare CEO's murder was a warning: 'You can only push people so far'
“Listen, Elizabeth Warren obviously understands that murder, murder, shooting people in the back is totally unacceptable, but what I think has happened in recent months is people's anger towards the health insurance industry. “The health insurance industry denies that,” Sanders said. “They can make billions of dollars and still provide the health care they desperately need.”
“So to kill someone, to shoot someone in the back who was the father of two children, that's outrageous. And that's unacceptable. No one, no one should be glorifying that. I know Sen. Warren didn't do that. But I think what we need to ask ourselves when we go to war is, 'Let's talk about health care. This is why we are the least of the major countries on earth to guarantee universal health care, why our life expectancy is significantly lower than in other countries, and why our working class people die by 5 to 10 years less. More so than the people above me,” he continued.
The alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, has been praised online by far-left groups as a backlash against the medical industry. (Getty Images)
After receiving significant backlash, Warren later retracted her comments.
“Violence is never the answer, of course,” she told FOX News Digital. “I should have made it clearer that murder can never be justified.”
Luigi Mangione, the man accused of Thompson's murder, became a far-left hero online in retaliation after his health insurance company denied him coverage.
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Other more mainstream progressive figures condemned the violence but conditioned their comments on attacks on the health care system. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York similarly said the shooting was not justified, but added that the denied claims could be considered an “act of violence.”
Liberal media pundits and Democratic politicians like Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have criticized the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot and killed in New York City. is avoided. (Getty Images)
“I'm not saying that acts of violence are justified, but a person who is confused, shocked, or appalled may interpret, feel, or experience a denied allegation as an act of violence against them. I think we need to understand that there is a lot of people in the world,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
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