Illinois lawmakers condemn violence after second Trump assassination attempt

[September 17, 2024]  By Catrina Peterson | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – After a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, Illinois lawmakers are condemning political violence and inflammatory rhetoric.

In a statement U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said, “I am relieved former President Trump is safe after reports of gunfire at his property. I, along with all patriotic Americans, condemn all acts of political violence no matter the political positions of those targeted. There are not good people on both sides of political violence.”

Duckworth’s final remarks within her original statement appear to be in reference to the “fine people on both sides” comment made by Trump at a deadly 2017 Charlottesville protest. That comment was debunked by Snopes, but has been used by Trump critics.

Duckworth later amended her post and omitted the remarks referencing Trump comments at the 2017 protest. The Center Square attempted to reach Duckworth for comment but did receive a reply immediately.

State Rep. Dan Caulkins said Democrats’ rhetoric is to blame.

"All the speeches that have been given by Gov. J.B. Pritzker Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, our elected officials are part of that crowd that have vilified Donald Trump, and I think [they] have radicalized people who believe and have a deep-rooted feeling that Trump can’t be president again or he will ruin the country,” said Caulkins. “So they are going to take matters into their own hands.”

Sen. Dick Durbin said in a social media post, “I’m glad there were no injuries, the former President is safe, and the suspect has been apprehended. Violence has no place in America. This must stop.”

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Caulkins said rhetoric coming from Democrats, like Durbin, inevitably will lead to more political violence.

"You have people that are easily persuaded or mentally incapacitated in some way and they genuinely feel they are trying to do something patriotic [when attempting to assassinate Trump],” said Caulkins.

Caulkins explained he believes the calling Trump a “Putin sympathizer" led to a Ukrainian mercenary attempting to assassinate Trump.

“These people have spent the last eight years vilifying Trump…from the day that he announced they have called him ‘an agent of Russia’ and ‘a pawn of Putin,’” said Caulkins.

Former Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger, said in a social media post, “the new answer to any criticism of Trump is that he just had his second assassination attempt, so you can’t. Yes you can. Within the bounds of any political criticism. Don’t let them try to intimidate you. Trump must be defeated.”

Kinzinger spoke at the DNC last month.

“How can a party claim to stand for liberty if it sees a fight for freedom in Ukraine—an attack pitting tyranny against democracy, a challenge to everything our nation claims to be—and it retreats, it equivocates, it nominates a man who is weirdly obsessed with Putin,” said Kinzinger at the convention in a speech.

Routh, in videos, presented himself as a recruiter for the International Ukrainian Military Intelligence unit for volunteer fighters, calling for more foreigners to join the Ukrainian army.