Biden, Harris and Waltz attend funerals of Democratic lawmakers assassinated in Minnesota
Former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz sat at the funeral for the murdered Congressman Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.
Private service at St. Mary's Cathedral in Minneapolis was broadcast live on Saturday, seeing the Hotmans and their dog Gilbert rest.
The former Minnesota speaker and her husband were shot dead at their home in Brooklyn Park on June 14, with the targeted attacks linked to a wider conspiracy against state Democratic officials.
Vance Boolter, 57, allegedly dressed in police officers, allegedly killed the Hotmans and injured Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette in another attack that night. He was charged with state and federal crimes.
Hortman's golden retriever Gilbert was also injured in the attack and later euthanized. His urn sat in the middle of a coffin on Friday in the circular building of the St. Paul's Building that Biden visited.
Biden hugged a mourner (her dog Gilbert) after living in the Getty Images on Friday in the Capitol building in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The former president also spoke with an emotional group after watching the coffin on Friday.
Their adult children, Sophie and Mark's parents J. Carroll Hortman and Ruth Russell-Stern, and Melissa's parents Harry and Linda Haluptzok, survived.
Melissa Hortman is a 55-year-old married mother (Minnesota Legislature)
Walz, the first to deliver his eulogy, began to speak easily: “I stand here and look at the speaker's podium, and I ask where I should speak. Melissa will quickly remind me, 'One of the year you speak in the speaker's musical Lord, just at my invitation.” So I know where I am. ”
“Melissa Hortman will be remembered as the most important spokesperson in Minnesota history. I remember she was a close friend, mentor and the most talented legislator I knew.”
Harris, Biden and Waltz are sitting in front of the church (via Reuters)
Gilbert, the couple's beloved dog, died a few days after the wound attack, and he was also honored (Minnesota Star Tribune)
“Actually, I've never talked about a lot of politics to commemorate. I tried and got technical tips from him, but we're mostly connected with our love of that sweet, sweet 80s music. He's really grateful.”
Family and friend, attorney Robin Ann Williams, shared a humorous story about more than 15 nearly identical beige paint samples that Melissa Hortman struggled for her kitchen.
“Mark and Melissa are colorful in many ways, but to this day, their kitchens are still beige,” Williams said.
Colin Hortman joined the prayer with his fiancé and ended the ceremony.
