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U.S. NEWS Friday 16 June 2017
Scalise has more surgery as authorities track shooter’s path

Continued from Front House floor Democratic sit-
in last year when Repub-
The FBI said it was investi- licans refused to consider
gating the shooter’s “ac- gun control legislation.
tivities and social media Members of both parties
impressions” in the months said they needed to soften
leading up to the attack. rhetorical attacks on each
Authorities also were going other, if only to set a better
over a cellphone, comput- example for a public that
er and camera taken from seems increasingly divided
Hodgkinson’s white van, into hostile political camps.
which was parked near the It’s a sentiment lawmak-
ballfield. ers frequently express after
So far, investigators have mass shootings or terrorist
not linked Hodgkinson to attacks, only to see their
any radical groups, said a sharp oratorical elbows
law enforcement official gradually return.
who spoke on condition Underscoring the day’s
of anonymity because the mood, the Rev. Patrick
official was not authorized Conroy, the House chap-
to discuss the investigation lain, opened the day by
publicly. seeking divine forgiveness
Colleagues who visited “when we seem to forget
Scalise at a Washington A playground near the baseball field is cordoned off with police tape as the investigation con- that words matter and can
hospital sounded generally tinue at the scene in Alexandria, Va., Thursday, June 15, 2017, the day after House Majority Whip become seeds that will
upbeat, but spoke more Steve Scalise of La. was shot during during a congressional baseball practice. bring bitter harvest.”q
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
in terms of hopes than the
confident predictions of Also hurt but released from
the immediate aftermath hospitals were two Capi-
a day earlier. tol Police officers, David
Democrat Cedric Rich- Bailey and Crystal Griner,
mond, a fellow Louisiana and House GOP aide Zack
congressman, said as Barth. Lobbyist Matt Mika
many others did that Scal- was shot multiple times
ise is a fighter. “I’m prayer- and critically injured and
ful he will pull through, and remained hospitalized.
I hope he does,” he said. Following a day that saw
Scalise was fielding ground most congressional busi-
balls at second base ness canceled, the House
Wednesday when he was approved legislation offer-
shot at a practice for an ing health insurance tax
annual Republicans-Dem- credits to some veterans
ocrats baseball game. while committees pon-
Richmond , who plays for dered federal land man-
the Democratic team, said agement, cybersecurity
he had visited the hospi- and more.
tal twice and planned to The Capitol’s usual partisan
go again before Thursday combativeness, though
night’s game at Nationals not absent, was less point-
Park. ed than usual, and warm
Four miles north of the Cap- words were exchanged
itol, Scalise, 51, lay at Med- between some lawmakers
star Washington Hospital with starkly opposing politi-
Center with a rifle wound cal philosophies.
in his left hip that shattered “There is so much you do
bones, tore organs and that I disagree with,” House
caused severe bleeding. Financial Services Commit-
The House’s No. 3 GOP tee Chairman Jeb Hen-
leader completed his third sarling, R-Texas, a staunch
surgery late Thursday, and conservative, told his pan-
a person close to the law- el’s top Democrat, unwav-
maker said he remained in ering liberal Rep. Maxine
critical condition. Waters, D-Calif.
“He’s in some trouble,” said “But you have long since
Trump, who had visited late earned my respect, and
Wednesday. “He’s going you deserve to be heard,
to be OK. We hope.” and you are an honorable
Scalise was among five individual.”
people wounded when a Addressing Scalise, Rep.
shooter sprayed rifle fire at John Lewis, D-Ga., said,
congressional Republicans “You are not alone. ...
practicing on a diamond We love you.” Lewis led a
in Alexandria.