Lawmakers express condolences after shooting

Lawmakers expressed their condolences early Wednesday after House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and several others were shot during a GOP practice for this week’s congressional baseball game.

Members of both the House and Senate sent their thoughts and prayers to Scalise and all those involved in the shooting.

“Unspeakable evil. Pray that Rep Scalise, police officers and everyone else will be ok,” Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) wrote on Twitter.

Unspeakable evil. Pray that Rep Scalise, police officers and everyone else will be ok.

— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) June 14, 2017

Please people. No partisan politics over this. Let’s come together against evil. United by our common decency.

— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) June 14, 2017

“My thoughts & prayers are with my friend @SteveScalise, our @CapitolPolice, and all who were harmed this morning in #Alexandria,” Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) wrote.

My thoughts & prayers are with my friend @SteveScalise, our @CapitolPolice, and all who were harmed this morning in #Alexandria.

— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) June 14, 2017

{mosads}Speaking to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he was in the batting cages when he heard a “rapid succession of shots.”

The senator said the only reason Capitol Police were at the practice field was that Scalise, a member of the GOP leadership, was attending the practice.

“The only reason they were there is because we had a member of leadership on our team,” Paul said.

“If Scalise wouldn’t have been on the team — unfortunately, he was hit, and I hope he does well — but also by him being there he probably saved everybody else’s life.” 

Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.) posted a photo on Twitter of House Democrats praying for Republican lawmakers after news of the attack.

.@HouseDemocrats praying for our @HouseGOP @SenateGOP baseball colleagues after hearing about the horrific shooting. https://t.co/y2HEUaSuzd pic.twitter.com/6HBrlnxtey

— Rep. Ruben J. Kihuen (@RepKihuen) June 14, 2017

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) in a statement expressed his gratitude to the Capitol Police and described the attack as “sickening.”

“I pray for the recovery of my GOP colleagues, staff, and U.S. Capitol Police officers who were shot at their baseball practice this morning,” Swalwell said.

“This charity game has always been a refuge from the tense battles inside the Capitol. To see players, staff, and officers who protect us under attack is sickening. Thank God for the brave Capitol Police officers who responded.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in a statement said he is sending prayers “for a full recovery” to the people injured, adding that “we’ve got to stop the violence.”

Other lawmakers quickly took to social media to send their condolences.

“My prayers to @SteveScalise, staff, and @CapitolPolice,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said. 

My prayers to @SteveScalise, staff, and @CapitolPolice.

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 14, 2017

“Horrific. Praying for Steve Scalise, congressional staffers & Capitol Police who were shot in Virginia,” Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said on Twitter.

Horrific. Praying for Steve Scalise, congressional staffers & Capitol Police who were shot in Virginia.

— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) June 14, 2017