Feinstein Statement on Hate Crimes, Presidential Rhetoric

            Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on recent politically and racially motivated crimes:

            “The Pittsburgh synagogue mass murder is just the latest in a string of politically and racially motivated crimes including the murder of two black people in Kentucky last week and the mailing of pipe bombs to President Trump’s critics.

            “It’s difficult not to draw direct lines between the hateful, divisive rhetoric of Donald Trump and an increase in such crimes.

            “Saturday’s synagogue shooting was the largest killing of Jewish citizens in our history. But instead of helping the country mourn and recover, the president insisted on attending a political rally. That’s shocking, but unfortunately not surprising.

            “A president’s duty must be to bring this nation together, not split it further apart. The president’s proclivity for attacks and name-calling must stop. This country is at a tipping point, and it’s unconscionable for the president to make things worse in order to score political points.”