Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont said he is “sickened by this despicable act” after a former campaign volunteer of his allegedly opened fire and wounded several Republicans, including Representative Steve Scalise, at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria.
“I have just been informed that the alleged shooter at the Republican baseball practice is someone who apparently volunteered on my presidential campaign. I am sickened by this despicable act,” Sanders said. “Let me be as clear as I can be. Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society, and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms.”
Law enforcement officials identified the shooting suspect as James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Ill. Hodgkinson was killed in a shootout with police during the attack.
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A Facebook page that appears to belong to Hodgkinson features a cover picture of Sanders. One posting also indicated that Hodgkinson signed a change.org petition for “the legal impeachment and or legal removal of The President & Vice President, et al., for Treason and Misprision of Treason.”
Martin Finucane of the Globe staff contributed to this report.