Hellokitty
Diamond Member
- Oct 12, 2009
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Several Republicans initially spread false rumors connecting the murder to the left, which they later deleted after it was revealed Boelter was a Republican. Some Republicans, however, did condemn the violence and defend Walz against the false claims.
Disinformation and initial Republican reaction
- False narratives: Shortly after the June 14, 2025, assassinations, some conservative figures on social media baselessly claimed that Hortman was killed by a far-left activist. These rumors circulated widely on platforms like X.
- Deleted posts: Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee and former Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker were among those who amplified these false claims. After information revealed the suspect's conservative background and Boelter's lack of a real relationship with Walz, both men deleted their posts.
- Ongoing criticism: Some Republicans continued to attack Walz. In September 2025, after a separate high-profile shooting involving a conservative figure, President Donald Trump was asked about the Hortman case and criticized Walz, calling him "incompetent".
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Sen. Mike Lee takes down X posts after widespread criticism • Wisconsin Examiner
Republican Sen. Mike Lee took down social media posts mocking Democrats after the assassination of a Minnesota lawmakerwisconsinexaminer.com
Like I said no one defended the Walz hire...