Trenton, New Jersey.After Minnesota senators and their families were fatally shot over the weekend, Governor Phil Murphy has ordered state police to bolster protection for public officials around New Jersey.
The action follows a politically motivated shooting that badly injured State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette and killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. The attack has raised national concerns about the safety of elected leaders and was allegedly carried out by a former appointee of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Murphy stated in a statement issued on Saturday, “I am appalled by the targeted shooting of Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses this weekend.” Our democracy is being attacked by this heinous act committed against two devoted public servants.
Murphy brought up New Jersey’s own history of political violence, pointing to the 2020 shooting at U.S. District Judge Esther Salas’ residence, which left her husband injured and her 20-year-old son dead.
Murphy stated that Attorney General Matthew Platkin has ramped up safety for elected officials and expanded patrols around the state as a precaution, even though no specific or credible threats have been found in New Jersey.
Increased vigilance follows fatal political attack
Attorney General Platkin has ramped up security for public leaders and boosted patrols statewide out of a sense of prudence, Murphy said, even though there is no known or credible threat in New Jersey.
Additionally, the message offered sympathies to the Minnesota victims. Murphy continued, “We are praying for John and Yvette Hoffman to fully recover, and our thoughts are with Melissa and Mark Hortman’s family and loved ones as they deal with this loss.”
Regarding the precise security improvements and the duration of the increased measures, no other information has been made public.
While police continue their investigation, the suspect in the Minnesota shooting is still at large.
Following a tragic attack that highlighted continued threats to U.S. public personnel, Governor Murphy issued a security directive.
