Senate Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders – 05/15/2025

In the wake of the shooting death of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman (D), CNN anchor Sara Sidner pressed Florida Congressman Randy Fine (R) if his own heated rhetoric is part of the problem.

“House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries says he will meet with congressional leaders from both parties this week to discuss heightened security for lawmakers after the politically motivated shootings in Minnesota, calling the violence a ' wake-up call,’” Sidner said before introducing Fine Monday.

“You're hearing from other congressional Democrats who are asking for more police protection after that assassination and attempted assassination of lawmakers in Minnesota,” Sidner said before asking Fine, “Would you vote to grant more security for all members of Congress? “

“I don't agree with Hakeem Jeffries on much, Sarah, but on this I do,” Fine said.

“I do want to talk to you about some of the rhetoric,” Sidner said, “because there's a lot of talk about rhetoric and how this gins people up. A few years ago, you were called out for calling a school board member a whore in a text. You've called one of your congressional colleagues a terrorist. Are you part of the problem here?”

“Well, look,” Fine deflected. “I think what people write in private text messages to each other is one thing. If I had said that in a public message, I'd understand. But I do think there are issues.”

Fine then took aim at a recent Instagram post made by former FBI head James Comey that Donald Trump's allies claimed was a call for the president to be killed, saying, ”I mean, that is a call for violence when people are waving signs that say, 86, 47. I think we've heard this discussion about taking down the temperature after President Trump was assassinated twice, and I don't think people are getting the message." He was actually referring to attempted assassinations of Trump.

“Are you not getting the message, too?” Sidner interjected, “Is it fair to say that the way that you speak to your colleagues, what you say about them, and the fiery rhetoric that you also use, is also an issue?”

“It's a fair point,” Fine said, “but I think fiery rhetoric is different than a call for violence, calling evil for what it is, calling danger for what it is, acceptable. It's when you cross that line and you say, and that person should be killed. That's never a line that I've crossed, nor do I think it should be done.”

Fine later said the problem is that “these people are crazy. This guy in Minnesota, he's going to turn out to be crazy, and when crazy people hear these things, these problems, these problems do well up.”

Sidner replied, “That's something that the courts will have to determine. Obviously, in looking at his history, his friends and family certainly do not think that.”

Watch the full interaction below or at this link.