{"id":2448133,"date":"2025-06-16T22:20:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T02:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-lee-catches-heat-from-minnesota-colleagues-for-posts-on-shootings\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T22:21:48","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T02:21:48","slug":"mike-lee-catches-heat-from-minnesota-colleagues-for-posts-on-shootings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-lee-catches-heat-from-minnesota-colleagues-for-posts-on-shootings\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Lee catches heat from Minnesota colleagues for posts on shootings"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmike-lee-catches-heat-from-minnesota-colleagues-for-posts-on-shootings%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2448133&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In a recent incident, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) confronted Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) regarding his controversial posts on social media following politically motivated shootings in minnesota. Lee had made light of the shootings, which involved the assassination and attempted murder of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/reports-president-trump-is-traveling-to-gettysburg-to-meet-with-gop-lawmakers\/\" title=\"Reports: President Trump Is Traveling to Gettysburg to Meet with GOP ...\">state lawmakers<\/a> by Vance Boelter, who has as been charged with multiple crimes, including murder. Lee&#8217;s posts included comments suggesting that the shootings were a result of political frustration from &#8220;Marxists,&#8221; and he shared images related to the suspect. Smith criticized his remarks as &#8220;brutal and cruel,&#8221; emphasizing the harmful impact of such rhetoric during a time of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/last-3-men-accused-in-plot-to-kidnap-michigan-gov-whitmer-acquitted\/\" title=\"3 men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Whitmer acquitted.\">increased political violence<\/a>. Other lawmakers, including Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), voiced their disapproval, underscoring that the issue is no laughing matter. Lee declined to comment on his posts or the confrontation, but he is known for making provocative statements on social media. Smith&#8217;s deputy chief of staff condemned Lee&#8217;s actions, criticizing the use of a senator&#8217;s platform to trivialize serious events.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mike Lee confronted by Minnesota colleagues for posts on political shootings<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2149700\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tina-smith\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Mike Lee\">Tina Smith<\/a> (D-MN) confronted Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-lee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Mike Lee\">Mike Lee<\/a> (R-UT) on Monday evening after his controversial online posts about the political assassination and attempted murder of Minnesota state lawmakers.<\/p>\n<p>Lee downplayed and joked about what authorities say were politically motivated shootings over the weekend by Vance Boelter, who was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3443038\/us-attorney-federal-charges-vance-luther-boelter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"charged Monday with a half-dozen federal crimes\">charged Monday with a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >half-dozen federal crimes<\/a><\/a>, including murder and stalking. He allegedly killed Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and shot Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, who remain hospitalized.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3443841\/how-the-senate-gop-tax-plan-differs-from-the-house-bill\/\">How the Senate GOP tax plan differs from the House bill<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/3443701\/senate-gop-plan-smaller-child-tax-credit-boost\/\">Senate GOP releases tax plan with smaller child tax credit boost<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3442994\/tim-kaine-resolution-iran-israel-senate-vote-trump-authority\/\">Tim Kaine to force Senate vote on Trump authority to attack Iran<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Lee posted Sunday, &ldquo;This is what happens when Marxists don&rsquo;t get their way.&rdquo; The message was accompanied by an alleged picture of Boelter donning a mask that police say he used to carry out the shootings. In a subsequent post, Lee appeared to try to criticize Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, and tie the violence to the far Left.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Nightmare on Waltz Street,&rdquo; Lee posted, along with more pictures of Boelter.<\/p>\n<p>Lee repeatedly declined to comment to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> on Monday evening about the posts or his conversation with Smith.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Nightmare on Waltz Street <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Nkifu7cKPA\">pic.twitter.com\/Nkifu7cKPA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BasedMikeLee\/status\/1934268603676647646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is what happens<\/p>\n<p>When Marxists don&rsquo;t get their way <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VcZ0XtMiBA\">pic.twitter.com\/VcZ0XtMiBA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BasedMikeLee\/status\/1934262175582822629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not doing any hallway interviews today,&rdquo; Lee said at the Capitol.<\/p>\n<p>Smith pulled Lee from a Republicans-only closed-door meeting earlier Monday to speak with him about the posts, as captured in a picture by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. Smith later recounted that she told Lee it was &ldquo;brutal and cruel,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mkraju\/status\/1934745061964521745\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">according to CNN<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He should think about the implications of what he&rsquo;s saying and doing,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It just further fuels this hatred and misinformation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) confronts Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington. (David Sivak\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) offered additional criticism.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I have condemned what Mike Lee did here at home, and I will speak to him about this when I return,&rdquo; she said Monday on MSNBC. &ldquo;And what I&rsquo;m going to tell him is: This isn&rsquo;t funny, what happened here.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is not a laughing matter,&rdquo; Klobuchar added. &ldquo;And certainly, what we&rsquo;re seeing is an increase in violence, and this evil man who did this &mdash; this is not a joke.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Lee is active on his personal X account, where the posts were made, and is no stranger to making statements on the platform that draw scrutiny. Still, it is rare for posts to rise to the level of controversy that they prompt a senator to confront a colleague personally.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3443038\/us-attorney-federal-charges-vance-luther-boelter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">US ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES FEDERAL CHARGES AGAINST MINNESOTA SHOOTINGS SUSPECT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ed Shelleby, Smith&rsquo;s deputy chief of staff, lambasted the conservative senator and his top staffers <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/burgessev\/status\/1934743736312807918\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">in a Monday email<\/a> to Lee&rsquo;s office, writing in part that Lee &ldquo;exploited the murder of a lifetime public servant and her husband to post some sick burns about Democrats.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Is this how your team measures success?&rdquo; reads the email, which was obtained by <em>Semafor<\/em>. &ldquo;Using the office of US Senator to post not just one but a series of jokes about an assassination&mdash;is that a successful day of work on Team Lee? Did you come into the office Monday and feel proud of the work you did over the weekend?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>David Sivak contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2149700\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2149700\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mike Lee faces backlash from Minnesota senators over his posts on political shootings<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2448134,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/tina-smith-mike-lee.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50410,35410,5698,35697,6744],"class_list":["post-2448133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-controversy-2","tag-mike-lee","tag-minnesota","tag-political-backlash","tag-shootings"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/tina-smith-mike-lee.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2448133"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2448137,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448133\/revisions\/2448137"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2448134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2448133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2448133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2448133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}