Fact Check: Smith aide: Lee exploited Minnesota deaths ‘to post some sick burns about Democrats’

Fact Check: "Smith aide: Lee exploited Minnesota deaths ‘to post some sick burns about Democrats’"

What We Know

On June 17, 2025, Democratic Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota confronted Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah regarding his social media posts that followed the tragic shootings of state Democratic Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Lee's posts included a photo of the suspect and a comment stating, “this is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way” (NBC News). Smith described Lee's remarks as "cruel" and expressed how much pain they caused her and others affected by the incident (CBS News).

In a subsequent email to Lee's office, Ed Shelleby, Smith's deputy chief of staff, accused Lee of exploiting the tragedy for political gain, stating that he used the "awesome power of a United States Senate Office to compound people’s grief" and labeled the posts as “sick burns about Democrats” (The Hill). The context surrounding the incident is critical, as the shootings were described as a “politically motivated assassination” by authorities, with the suspect allegedly having a list of over 45 elected officials (NBC News).

Analysis

The claim that a Smith aide accused Lee of exploiting the Minnesota deaths for political commentary is substantiated by multiple sources. Smith's confrontation with Lee and her characterization of his social media posts as "cruel" is well-documented (NBC News, CBS News). The email from Ed Shelleby, which directly calls out Lee's actions and describes them as exploiting a tragedy, reinforces the claim (The Hill, MSNBC).

The reliability of these sources is strong, as they are established news organizations that provide detailed accounts of the incident and include direct quotes from the involved parties. However, it is important to note that the framing of the incident may carry inherent biases, particularly given the political affiliations of the individuals involved. Smith, as a Democrat, and Lee, as a Republican, are likely to have differing perspectives on the appropriateness of political commentary in the wake of violence.

Furthermore, the emotional weight of the situation is emphasized by Smith's personal connection to the victims, which adds a layer of credibility to her claims of pain caused by Lee's remarks. The context of the shootings being labeled as politically motivated further complicates the narrative, as it suggests a charged environment where political rhetoric can have significant consequences.

Conclusion

The claim that a Smith aide accused Lee of exploiting the deaths of Minnesota lawmakers for political commentary is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources supports this assertion, detailing both Smith's confrontation with Lee and the subsequent email from her aide that explicitly condemns Lee's actions as exploitative and insensitive. Given the context of the tragic events and the nature of Lee's comments, the characterization of his posts as "sick burns about Democrats" is justified.

Fact Check: Smith aide: Lee exploited Minnesota deaths ‘to post some sick burns about Democrats’