1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my outrage and deep concern regarding recent social media posts made by Senator Mike Lee of Utah, in which he appeared to joke about the attempted assassination of two Democratic state lawmakers from Minnesota and their spouses. This kind of rhetoric is not only appalling—it is dangerous, destabilizing, and profoundly beneath the dignity of a United States Senator. In today’s volatile political climate, words matter. When elected officials make light of political violence, especially targeting their colleagues, it normalizes extremist thinking and encourages those who may take such “jokes” seriously. We have already witnessed the consequences of inflammatory rhetoric in the attacks on Rep. Gabby Giffords, the assault on Speaker Pelosi’s husband, and the violent insurrection on January 6th. Political violence is a direct attack on the democratic process. It seeks to silence dissent, intimidate elected officials, and replace debate with fear—undermining the very foundation of representative government. I respectfully urge you to publicly denounce Senator Lee’s remarks and call for accountability. Our democracy depends on leaders who defend the rule of law and speak out against threats of political violence—whether they are veiled in humor or not. Please use your platform to make it clear that there is no place in Congress or the United States of America for language that dehumanizes, endangers, or incites harm toward elected officials. If we fail to confront this now, we risk legitimizing it in the future. Thank you for your continued service, and I hope you will lead with courage and moral clarity on this matter.