This deliberate attack on key values and freedoms, as well as the right to political expression, is no isolated incident. Rather, it represents a disturbing pattern of politically motivated violence encouraged by the silence, implicit encouragement, and inflammatory rhetoric of the Democrats, whose failure to stand against political violence has not only made incidents like these possible but, tragically, more frequent.
The Democratic Party has always condemned—and will continue to condemn—any form of political violence, regardless of the target. Our response to the violent and cowardly act on Sunday has been no different, yet the Republicans are weaponizing this incident to spread false and inflammatory accusations that deepen the political divide in our country and risk further violence. If they have any shame at all, the Republicans must apologize for behaving so irresponsibly.