Klobuchar on slain Minnesota Democratic lawmaker: ‘The most incredible person'

The Hill

8 hours ago

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on Sunday remembered former Minnesota state Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) as 'the most incredible person,' a day after Hortman and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot in what officials are calling a politically motivated shooting.
'Melissa Hortman is the most incredible person, that I wish everyone in the nation knew her, went into politics with little kids. That's how I got to know her,' Klobuchar told CNN's Dana Bash on 'State of the Union.'
'She was extraordinary. And so, when you hear about political violence, Dana, you have got to look at the face of this woman and understand how real this is,' she added.
Hortman and her husband were fatally shot at their home early Saturday morning, officials said. State Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife were also shot and wounded. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said the attacks were politically motivated.
Minnesota law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Vance Boelter, 57. The FBI has launched a manhunt for Boelter, and a $50,000 award is being offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction in the killing of Hortman and her husband and the shooting of Hoffman and his wife.
Klobuchar also talked about Hortman on NBC News's 'Meet The Press,' where she told host Kristen Welker that she had dined with Hortman at a 'big political dinner' hours before she died, where they celebrated the end of the legislative session.
'I just wish everyone in the political world knew this woman like we know her in Minnesota, loved by Democrats and Republicans,' she said. 'We started out together in politics, moms with young kids. And somehow she was able to balance getting to know every door knock, every house in her district while raising two children.'