Pence says Minnesota shooting ‘must be universally condemned'
Former Vice President Mike Pence said the fatal shooting of state Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband over the weekend 'must be universally condemned' and that there is 'no antidote for law and order.'
'There is no antidote for law and order, for making it very clear that there will be no tolerance in this country for political violence, whatever its motivation,' he said during an appearance on 'The Hill Sunday.' 'And I believe instances such as this must be universally condemned.'
Pence's condemnation comes as officials continue their manhunt for the suspect in the shooting of Hortman (D) and her husband on Saturday, Vance Boelter. The 57-year-old is also suspected of shooting and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife.
A $50,000 award is being offered for information leading to Boelter's arrest and conviction.
Host Chris Stirewalt asked Pence how the U.S. can 'break out of this cycle that seems to be afflicting us year after year,' to which the Indiana Republican replied, 'Swift and certain law enforcement.'
'Look, I know there's always a temptation for people to look at trends,' he added, noting an incident in 2017 when then-House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and others were shot during a congressional baseball practice.
Pence said he denounced shifting any blame at the time, mentioning that the shooter, James T. Hodgkinson, supported Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and volunteered for the Vermont senator's presidential campaign. Immediately after the revelation, Sanders criticized Hodgkinson's actions, calling the shooting 'a despicable act.'
'Now, as we live in a time when we've seen two assassination attempts on President Trump during his campaign, when we've seen an attack on the home of the governor of Pennsylvania, attack on Jewish protesters, I honestly think the answer here is to see that these people are prosecuted swiftly and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' Pence said.
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