Klobuchar criticizes Mike Lee’s comments on Minnesota suspect: ‘This is not amusing’

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) criticized fellow Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Monday for his social media posts that spread unverified claims about the man accused of killing a Minnesota Democrat and her husband over the weekend.

“I really hold Mike Lee responsible for this. When I return, I plan to discuss it with him,” Klobuchar remarked on MSNBC. “What I want him to understand is that this is not a joke.”

“This was an incredible woman, and her husband. Their two children—yesterday, it was Father’s Day for them, but there was no celebration,” she continued. “They lost both of their parents.”

Lee had tweeted, “This is what happens when Marxists don’t give way,” alongside visuals of a masked individual near a lawmaker’s residence and a photo of a suspect released by the FBI.

He later shared another post, featuring a picture of the masked individual and a headshot of the 57-year-old suspect, Vance Boerter. He referred to it with the phrase “Nightmare on Waltz Street,” which seemed to target Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz (D).

Boerter was charged with the murder of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her spouse. He is also alleged to have shot and injured another Minnesota legislator and his wife.

Arrested on Sunday, Boerter was located in Green Isle, close to his home. The Associated Press discovered a list of around 70 names in connection to fake police vehicles found at the crime scene, which included well-known state and federal lawmakers, as well as community leaders, with details about abortion rights advocates and healthcare facilities.

Klobuchar mentioned that she and the murdered House Speaker Hortman had recently shared a meal on Friday night.

Lee’s comments quickly drew criticism from Democrats online.

“It’s Father’s Day, and you choose to lie about a tragedy to defend right-wing domestic terrorists,” the official party account posted. “It’s shameful.”

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party also stated, “It’s both evil and immoral to exploit the murder of Speaker Hortman to spread right-wing falsehoods. This disgrace will be part of your legacy.”

Lee then reinforced a baseless narrative, implying that Boerter was driven by left-wing motivations. “Marxism is a fatal mental illness,” he claimed, referencing reports that a “King” protest flyer was discovered in Boerter’s vehicle.

Boerter, who worked for a security company, had been appointed to the state’s economic committee twice by Democratic governors, including Waltz. However, a person claiming to be Boerter’s former roommate shared with local media that he supported President Trump.

Lee’s X account is often a platform for engaging with users who share right-wing views. On his official account, he adopted a markedly different tone.

“There are no hateful attacks like this in Utah, Minnesota, or anywhere else in America,” he posted on Sunday. “We must denounce this senseless violence and pray for the victims and their families.”