Lawmakers across southern West Virginia expressed their condemnation of violence after an assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump and the death of a rally attendee on Saturday during a campaign event in Pennsylvania.
Gov. Jim Justice spoke during an online briefing Monday about the assassination attempt. Justice said he plans to attend the Republican National Convention today.
“I’ve got some stuff to talk to you about today,” Justice said. “I never dreamed in my life what we saw on Saturday could happen. We saw what I know is a great man and truly, what he is doing is for the right reasons. He doesn’t have to do it. We saw Donald J. Trump nearly assassinated. We saw a miracle right in front of our eyes. How could it have missed his head? Unbelievable, the miracle we saw right in front of our eyes.”
Justice said it was time to “amp down the rhetoric” in political and pubic discourse and to stop tolerating violence. Justice held his thumb and a finger about an inch apart.
“With all that being said, we came this close to losing the next president of the United States of America,” he said, adding, “We came this close to me losing a really dear friend. Someone I’ve got confidence in.”
Justice also praised Corey Comperatore. The former fire chief died while shielding his wife and daughter from bullets, according to the Associated Press.
“Corey, your bravery was unbelievable,” the governor said.
Justice closed his briefing Monday with a prayer and said he would attend the Republican National Convention “without an ounce of fear.”
Other officials spoke Monday or soon after the assassination attempt.
U.S. Rep. Carol Miller, R-WVa., released a statement Monday about the assassination attempt against Trump and the death of Corey Comperatore.
“My heart breaks for Corey Comperatore’s family who are mourning the loss of their father, husband, son and hero,” Miller said. “Political violence has no place in America, and we will never surrender to hateful fear tactics. I thank God that President Trump survived this assassination attempt... While I am thankful for the secret service who acted quickly to take down the shooter, I’m hopeful that we will learn answers to the many questions surrounding the attack to prevent anything like it from happening again. God bless President Trump and God bless America,” Miller said.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., spoke Monday regarding the shooting in Pennsylvania.
“Like all Americans, I was shocked and horrified by the assassination attempt on President Trump at his campaign rally in Pennsylvania,” Capitol said. “I am so thankful that President Trump survived this attack and I conveyed that to him personally,” Capito said. “However, I am heartbroken that one individual was killed and others were critically injured while simply exercising their freedoms and coming together in one of our country’s oldest traditions – a rally. I will continue to keep their family members and loved ones in my prayers during this incredibly difficult time. Now more than ever, we need to come together as Americans.”
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., spoke Sunday about the attempt on Trump’s life and the people injured and killed at the rally.
“Our nation stands at a critical moment in our history. I love my country and I cannot stand by and watch these events unfold without trying to use my voice,” Manchin said. “The horrible actions of yesterday are the actions of one man, but they should surprise no one in the toxic political environment we find ourselves in today.”
“On both sides of the political spectrum, politics has become a race to the extremes. While it takes different forms on the right and the left, make no mistake, extremism is the driving force in both parties today. While each party seeks to serve the most ideological on each side, the sensible majority of America is being alienated and left behind,” he said. “Each day, we see increasingly violent language being used to demonize and villainize the other side. No room has been left for discussion or debate.
Love of country has been replaced with hate for anyone who professes to support the other party.”
“But nothing good has ever come from hate. Sadly, one innocent rallygoer is dead and others injured because we have allowed hate speech to become a rallying cry for political violence. We are fortunate that former President Donald Trump was only wounded and will recover,” Manchin said. “This should be a wake-up call for all of us. This is a moment where Americans must come together to support the ideals that make our nation great. It is a time to put country before party. On both sides.”
“I am angry, as I know others are, that we are in this position. We must acknowledge that both sides share responsibility for where we are and where we go from here,” Manchin said.
President Joe Biden on Sunday urged Americans to reject political violence and recommit themselves to resolving their differences peacefully, saying the upcoming presidential election will be a “time of testing” in the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
In a prime-time national address from the Oval Office, Biden said political passions can run high but “we must never descend into violence.” The president said his party and the Republicans can compete forcefully over different policy visions — but must do it in a civil fashion.
“All of us now face a time of testing as the election approaches,” Biden said. “There is no place in America for this kind of violence — for any violence. Ever. Period. No exception. We can’t allow this violence to be normalized.”