As information continues to come from investigators over the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump, the GOP’s candidate for the 2024 presidential election, Illinois lawmakers and politicians are weighing in on Saturday’s shooting.
“I want to make it clear that political violence is never acceptable. I wish former President Trump a swift recovery. In our democracy, differences should be settled through dialogue and mutual respect, not through acts of violence,” Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, said in a statement.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, in a post on X, said “political violence is never acceptable.”
“I’m keeping the former president, the bystander who was tragically killed, and all who were injured or whose safety was threatened in my thoughts,” he said.
On July 15, Durbin told his X followers he was briefed on the investigation into the assassination attempt.
Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman said she is thankful Trump is recovering, that she mourns the loss of life and is keeping those injured in her thoughts. She said she hopes individuals can work harder to “to listen to each other with empathy and engage in respectful dialogue.”
“As a community, we are deeply disturbed by the attempted assassination of former President Trump,” Scaman wrote. “Our democracy is intended to support healthy debate on differing policy agendas and never is it acceptable to resort to violent acts.”
And Illinois Republican Chairperson Elect Kathy Salvi on X said: “The Republicans of Illinois are united and stand with President Trump. We express our full support for President Trump and his family. We appreciate the prompt response by law enforcement and the Secret Service.”
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon said “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. I wish the former president a swift recovery, and my sympathy goes out to those injured and the family and friends of the person killed in this senseless tragedy.”
Oak Park Trustee Chibuike Enyia told Wednesday Journal the incident was an “attack on our democracy” and that it “threatens the future of American politics.” He said his thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the individual that lost their life, the two who remain in critical condition and to Trump.
“There is no room for these acts of violence in our country,” he wrote. “There is much more that should be bringing us together than dividing us.”
Other area leaders did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
It is not yet clear how Saturday’s event, which comes amid deep divisions among the nation’s political parties, will affect August’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, authorities said. The region’s delegates include State Rep. LaShawn Ford, Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins and Chicago Alderperson Emma Mitts of the 37th Ward.
It is also not yet clear whether or how Saturday’s attempted assassination will affect polls in November.
The Democratic Party of Illinois issued a statement late Saturday.
“We are shocked and saddened by the events at the rally in PA. Political violence has no place in our society. We pray for the safety of all attendees and condemn violence in the strongest terms. Thank you to the first responders and Secret Service for their swift response.”
The FBI is investigating an attempted assassination on Trump Saturday at a political rally in Pennsylvania. He appeared to be shot in the ear and was determined to be otherwise in good health.
The suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Butler, Pennsylvania was shot and killed by law enforcement agents, authorities said. They said he fired an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, purchased by his father.
Gunfire also killed a 50-year-old Pennsylvania man and wounded two others.
This is a developing story. Please check back to learn more about what your local legislators and politicians have to say about the attempted assassination and what changes, if any, will be made to the DNC or November’s elections.