Congress receives high-level security briefing as threats against lawmakers reach highest level in years.
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — In the wake of an attack on two Minnesota state lawmakers, members of Congress are renewing calls for improved protections for public officials.
Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith on Tuesday honored the life and work of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman — who was killed over the weekend along with her husband, Mark — while calling for swift action to prevent future political violence.
“Violence has absolutely no place in our democracy,” Klobuchar said.
Authorities say Hortman and her husband were shot and killed at their home in Brooklyn Park. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were injured in a separate shooting in nearby Champlin.
The suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, is in custody and faces multiple state and federal charges, including second-degree murder and attempted murder.
On Capitol Hill, the tragedy has reignited long-running conversations about how best to keep public servants safe. The FBI and U.S. Capitol Police briefed lawmakers on Tuesday, warning that threats against members of Congress have risen sharply — nearly 9,500 threats were reported last year, the highest total since 2021.
“There are many things we can do as a body to fix this problem,” Klobuchar said, adding that new legislation may soon be introduced. “But we don’t need to pass a law for people to turn down the rhetoric.”
Smith also addressed the Senate floor, urging unity in response to the attack.
“We as speakers must rise to this moment as one voice to prevent violent political attacks,” she said. “Millions of Minnesotans are better off because of the work that she [Hortman] did.”
The calls for increased security have drawn bipartisan attention, though some lawmakers emphasized the importance of balancing that need with protecting civil liberties.
“It’s always a resource issue,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. “And it’s trying to make sure that it’s proportional to the threat and not an overreaction.”
Smith, who was visibly emotional during her remarks, said the threat is no longer abstract — it’s personal.
“May we all find a way to be better after these attacks,” she said.