Bernie Sanders on Report That Shooter Volunteered for His Campaign: “I’m Sickened.”

“I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks on the Senate floor about Wednesday morning's shooting at the Republican congressional baseball practice./Senate Television via AP

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called this morning’s shooting at a GOP congressional baseball practice practice in Virginia a “despicable act” during a speech to the Senate Wednesday morning, after learning that the suspect in had apparently volunteered for his 2016 presidential campaign.

The attack wounded at least five people, including Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), one of his aides, and two Capitol Police officers, after the alleged gunman James T. Hodgkinson opened fire on a baseball field in the Del Ray neighborhood of Virginia around 7am.

“Violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society, and I condemn this action in the strongest possible terms,” Sen. Sanders said. “Real change can only come through nonviolent action, and anything else runs against our most deeply held American values.”

Watch his full comments below:

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) addressed also his colleagues Wednesday morning. “We are all horrified by this dreadful attack,” he said:

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PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. The deadline’s almost here. Please help us reach our $150k membership goal by May 31.

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