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U.S. NEWS Thursday 15 June 2017

At Press Time:

Rifle-wielding attacker wounds GOP leader, killed by police

Continued from Front pected to fully recover.
Two Capitol Police officers
The shooter was identified sustained relatively minor
as James T. Hodgkinson, a injuries. A former congres-
66-year-old home inspec- sional aide was hospital-
tor from Illinois who had ized.
several minor run-ins with The shooting occurred at
the law in recent years and a popular park and base-
belonged to a Facebook ball complex where Re-
group called “Terminate publican lawmakers and
the Republican Party.” He others were gathered for
had been living out of his a morning practice about
van in the Alexandria area 7 a.m. They were in good
in recent months, the FBI spirits despite the heat and
said. humidity as they prepared
Capitol Police officers who for the annual congressio-
were in Scalise’s security nal baseball match that
detail wounded the shoot- pits Republicans against
er. He later died of his inju- Democrats.
ries, Trump told the nation The popular annual face-
from the White House. off, which raises money
“Everyone on that field is for charity, is scheduled
a public servant,” Trump for Thursday evening at
said, his tone somber, FBI Evidence Response Team members mark evidence at the scene of a multiple shooting in Al- Nationals Park across the
America’s acrimonious exandria, Va., Wednesday, June 14, 2017, involving House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La., and Potomac River in Washing-
politics set aside for the others during a congressional baseball practice. ton, and will go forward as
moment. “Their sacrifice (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) planned.
makes democracy pos- vitriol in American politics. issued their own calls for possible terms.” Hodgkinson has been in
sible.” Lawmakers called for a unity. “An attack on one of Scalise, 51, the No. 3 House the area since March, liv-
Lawmakers noted their new dialogue on lowering us is an attack on all of us,” Republican leader, was first ing out of his van, said
good fortune in hav- the partisan temperature, Ryan said, to prolonged elected in 2008. The popu- Washington FBI Special
ing armed protectors on and Trump urged Ameri- applause. lar and gregarious law- Agent In Charge Tim Slater.
hand — “Thank God,” cans to come together as Shortly after the shooting, maker is known for his love Democratic former Alex-
they exclaimed over and he assumed the role of na- Bernie Sanders, the former of baseball and handed andria Mayor Bill Euille said
over — and said otherwise tional unifier for one of the candidate for the Demo- out commemorative bats he had spoken often with
the shooter would have first times in his presidency. cratic presidential nomina- when he secured the job of the man on recent morn-
been able to take a huge Proceedings were can- tion, said on the Senate floor House whip several years ings at the nearby YMCA.
deadly toll. The events left celed for the day in the that the shooter apparent- ago. Hodgkinson’s apparent
the capital horrified and House, and instead Speak- ly was a volunteer for his Texas Rep. Roger Williams Facebook page included
stunned, and prompted er Paul Ryan of Wisconsin campaign last year. Sand- said that one of his aides, strong criticism of Repub-
immediate reflection on and Democratic leader ers said he denounced the Zack Barth, was shot but licans and the Trump ad-
the current hostility and Nancy Pelosi of California violence “in the strongest was doing well and ex- ministration. q

Game on: Tragedy won’t stop annual baseball game

By ANDREW TAYLOR R-Wis., assured lawmakers money for three charities. of the annual event. Rich- came as he was struggling
Associated Press assembled at a members’ And we do it because we mond played baseball in to win Democratic votes for
WASHINGTON (AP) — The briefing that the game will like to play baseball and college and kicked off his an unpopular trade-relat-
game will go on. be played as scheduled, try to recapture a little bit congressional career with ed measure.
The annual Congressio- prompting a standing ova- of our youth. It’s a positive a one-hitter in 2011 and has To lawmakers, the annual
nal Baseball Game, which tion. thing. Of all the things Con- been the game’s dominant game is one of the better
dates to 1909 and is a sum- “It will be ‘Play Ball!’ to- gress does, this is one of the player pretty much since opportunities for lawmak-
mertime tradition on Capi- morrow night at 7:05,” said most benign, positive activ- then. Last year, however, ers to get to know each
tol Hill, will be played on Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, ities.” Members of Congress Democrats lost the game other outside of their par-
Thursday despite Wednes- the longtime manager of practice for months for the 8-7, ending a seven-game tisan roles. “The things that
day’s shooting at the GOP the GOP squad. event, and typically don winning streak that mostly used to bring members to-
squad’s practice in Alexan- Once a relatively cozy af- the jerseys of a team from coincided with Richmond gether, whether it’s travel -
dria, Virginia. fair, played at a minor back home. The Capitol Hill joining the Democratic that’s frowned upon. If you
It’s an annual tradition in league ballpark in Mary- newspaper Roll Call spon- side. belong to the gym, they
which aging former Little land, the game has gone sors the game and awards Congressional leaders typi- think ‘well, that’s a perk
Leaguers don their spikes big time in recent years a trophy once a side wins cally attend the event and you shouldn’t have,’” said
and dust off their gloves in and has been played at three of five games. former President Barack Rep. Mike Doyle of Penn-
a game played for brag- Nationals Park, just a few “It’s a good way raise mon- Obama — famous for sylvania, the manager of
ging rights and to benefit blocks from the Capitol. ey for charity and for mem- shunning opportunities to the Democratic team. “All
several charities. It’s also a “We do it for really three bers to get to know each rub shoulders with law- the chances to interact
somewhat rare example of reasons. We do it for fel- other,” said Rep. Cedric makers — even went two with each other outside
bipartisanship in an increas- lowship amongst ourselves. Richmond, D-La., whose years ago, watching from our suits, and outside floor
ingly polarized Washington. We do it for charity,” Bar- election in 2010 upended the Democratic dugout. debate, are few and far
House Speaker Paul Ryan, ton said. “We raise a lot of the competitive balance Obama’s appearance between.”q