Minnesota Shootings Target Lawmakers, Shake Capitol Hill, Spark Security Fears

On Thursday, Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill were at each other's throats. By Saturday, they were joining to decry political violence and seek more security.

- Katy Stech Ferek & Tim Hanrahan

The middle-of-the-night killing in Minnesota of a top Democratic state lawmaker and the shooting of a colleague, allegedly by a suspect posing as a police officer who had a list of other elected officials, jolted Capitol Hill, eight years to the day after Republican lawmakers were targeted by a lone gunman at a congressional baseball practice.

Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and the rest of Minnesota's congressional delegation released a joint statement saying they "speak with one voice to express our outrage, grief, and condemnation of this horrible attack on public servants."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) and other lawmakers of both parties issued statements saying there is no place for violence in politics.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Saturday that U.S. Capitol Police had agreed to increase security for Minnesota Sens. Tina Smith and Klobuchar, both Democrats, at his request in light of the shooting. Schumer also asked the Senate sergeant at arms, the chamber's top cop, and Thune to hold a full briefing on member security once lawmakers return.