1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

This partisan behavior is unacceptable! In the hours following the killing of Kirk on the campus of Utah Valley University, senator Mike Lee issued an impassioned tribute, calling the incident "a cowardly act of violence" and hailing Kirk as an "American patriot" who inspired "countless young people." Lee added on X: "The terrorists will not win. Charlie will." However, less than three months earlier, Lee's response to the double assassination of Democratic lawmaker Hortman and her husband was widely criticized. Instead of mourning the victims, Lee initially mocked the event on social media. Our leaders once loved our country. Now they only know how to spread hate and incite anger.