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Thoughts and Prayers? Nah. Not when you can Spread Conspiracy Theories
By Joel Connelly
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The Washington State Republican Party, along with a MAGA senator from Utah, jumped to spread false allegations that “Marxists” were responsible for assassinating a Democratic legislator in Minnesota.
A conspiracy theory, fabricated by a far-right news site, was reposted on “X” — the former Twitter — by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, as well as by Washington state Republican chair Jim Walsh and the Washington State GOP.
Under fire from Senate colleagues and others, Lee later issued a boilerplate statement decrying “senseless violence” and said he was “praying” for the victims. No such walk back has come from Walsh or the state party; nor have the posts been taken down. All the while, Walsh and the party have been flaying mainstream media for condoning violence and “running cover” for the Democrats.
A lone gunman, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, faces charges that he shot to death State Rep. Melissa Hortman and husband Mark at their suburban Minneapolis home; he had earlier wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, according to police. Both lawmakers have been influential members of the Minnesota Legislature. Hortman was an outspoken gun-safety advocate. Boelter had compiled a target list consisting of state legislators, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, Planned Parenthood, and abortion-rights advocates.
https://www.postalley.org/2025/06/19/thoughts-and-prayers-nah-not-when-you-can-spread-conspiracy-theories/