Former President Biden visited the Minnesota Capitol to pay his respects to former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, who were killed in their homes during a “politically motivated” attack earlier this month.
Biden, a devout Catholic, made the sign of the cross and knelt to honor the victims of the attack. The couple laid in the rotunda for public viewing, making Hortman the first woman to lie in the rotunda of the state capitol.
Biden and former Vice President Harris will attend the private funeral this Saturday, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
On June 14, Vance Boelter is accused of killing Hortman and her husband and shooting Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife Yvette, leading to the largest manhunt in Minnesota history.
He also reportedly had a list of 45 other elected officials and traveled to the homes of multiple lawmakers on his list to “stalk” them.
This sparked outrage and fear among lawmakers who worry about the country's political divide.
Hoffman is still recovering from his injuries, and Biden visited the state lawmaker at the hospital for about 40 minutes on Friday, a spokesperson told NewsNation.
After the attacks, members from both sides of the aisle condemned the violent episode.
“Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America,” President Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in our nation. Elected officials must be safe to do their job on behalf of the people. The hate and division that dominate our political discourse must end,” Harris posted on the social media platform X.
Updated at 8:33 p.m. EDT
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