Fact Check: "The assassination of the Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota occurred less than 24 hours before Senator Mike Lee's initial social media posts."
What We Know
On June 14, 2025, Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their home in Minnesota. The suspect, Vance Boelter, was apprehended shortly after the incident, which was described as a political assassination aimed at instilling fear among Democratic politicians (source-1, source-2).
Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, made his initial social media posts regarding the assassination less than 24 hours after the event. His posts included politically charged messages that appeared to mock the situation, stating, "This is what happens When Marxists don’t get their way" and "Nightmare on Waltz Street," the latter referencing Minnesota's Democratic Governor Tim Walz (source-1).
The timeline of events indicates that the assassination occurred early on June 14, and Lee's posts were made on June 15, confirming that they were indeed posted within a 24-hour window following the assassination.
Analysis
The claim that the assassination occurred less than 24 hours before Senator Mike Lee's posts is supported by the timeline of events. The assassination of Melissa Hortman took place in the early hours of June 14, and Mike Lee's posts were made on June 15. This aligns with the reported timeline from multiple sources, including the New York Times and CNN, which detail the sequence of events surrounding the assassination and Lee's subsequent social media activity (source-1, source-2, source-4).
The reliability of the sources is high, as they include established news organizations like the New York Times and CNN, which have a reputation for thorough reporting and fact-checking. The information is corroborated across multiple reports, indicating a consensus on the timeline of events.
However, it is important to note that while the posts were made shortly after the assassination, the political implications and reactions to Lee's comments have been widely discussed and criticized. This context adds layers to the interpretation of the events but does not alter the factual timeline.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The assassination of the Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota did indeed occur less than 24 hours before Senator Mike Lee's initial social media posts. The timeline is clearly established through credible sources, confirming the accuracy of the claim.
Sources
- Mike Lee Draws Outrage for Posts Blaming Assassination ... (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/us/politics/mike-lee-minnesota-assassination-democrats.html)
- Suspect Planned to 'Inflict Fear' With Wider Killing Spree ... (https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/16/us/minnesota-shootings)
- 2025 shootings of Minnesota legislators - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_shootings_of_Minnesota_legislators)
- Sen. Tina Smith says she confronted Sen. Mike Lee about his 'cruel' social media posts (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/tina-smith-mike-lee-cruel-social-media-posts-minnesota-shootings-rcna213396)
- Minnesota shootings suspect faces 6 federal charges and ... (https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/minnesota-shootings-manhunt-06-15-25)
- Mike Lee criticized after posting apparent jokes about the ... - KSL News (https://www.ksl.com/article/51330837/mike-lee-criticized-after-posting-apparent-jokes-about-the-killing-of-a-minnesota-lawmaker)
- Minnesota US Senate staffer sends Mike Lee a scathing ... (https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2025/06/16/minnesota-us-senate-staffer-sends/)
- Mike Lee outrages Minnesota politicians with social media jabs about ... (https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/mike-lee-outrages-minnesota-politicians-social-media-jabs-about-lawmakers-murder)
