KANSAS CITY – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5) says he won’t let threats of political violence stop his work after learning his name was on the hit list of the accused Minnesota assassin.
Cleaver told KSHB News that the House Sergeant at Arms called his chief of staff after the attacks and let him know that his name was included on the list of about 70 names.
Vance Boelter, 57, was arrested Sunday following a manhunt after allegedly killing Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounding both a state senator and his wife. He has been charged with numerous state and federal crimes.
Now, the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband, and the shooting of another lawmaker and his wife at their homes, are the latest additions to a long roll call of political violence in the United States.
In just the past two months: People marching for the release of hostages in Gaza were struck by firebombs; two Israeli embassy workers in Washington were killed; and the Pennsylvania governor's mansion was badly damaged by an arsonist on a Jewish holiday while Josh Shapiro and family were inside.
One person was shot and killed and Donald Trump was said to have been injured during a Pennsylvania campaign rally last summer prior to the election.
There have been other acts of political violence in the US, most notably the attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, as they attempted to stop Congress from ratifying Joe Biden's victory.
False claims about the 2020 presidential election contributed to threats against election officials and an exodus of election workers.