AUGUSTA, Maine — A Republican lawmaker from Chelsea is facing backlash after saying the Lewiston mass shooting was God's punishment for Maine's expansion of abortion rights last year.
House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, on Thursday issued separate letters to Rep. Michael Lemelin, R-Chelsea, and Rep. Shelley Rudnicki, R-Fairfield, who agreed with Lemelin, telling them they would not be allowed to speak on legislative matters until they issue a formal apology on the House floor.
Talbot wrote that Lemelin's remarks "were extremely offensive and intentionally harmful to the victims and the families of the Lewiston tragedy, the House of Representatives, and the People of Maine."
"To make satisfaction, you must issue a formal apology, which you will read on the House floor," Talbot Ross wrote in each letter. "You must accept sole and full responsibility for the incident and publicly apologize to your constituents, the victims, and families of the Lewiston tragedy, the greater Lewiston community, and the people of Maine."
During a floor debate Wednesday, Lemelin drew a connection between the Oct. 25 mass shooting in Lewiston and a law expanding abortion in Maine, which went into effect on the same day. He also said four recent storms in Maine were God's response to the abortion law.
The law that went into effect in Maine on Oct. 25 allows abortions at any time if deemed necessary by a doctor.
"Keep in mind that the law came into effect October 25," Lemelin said Wednesday during a debate on the House floor. "... God heard you and the horrible events of October 25 happened."
When Lemelin was done speaking, Rudnicki declared her agreement.
"I just want to stand and say that I agree with Rep. Lemelin and everything he said," Rudnicki said.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle condemned the representatives' comments, and the House was scheduled to vote Thursday on censure orders against Rudnicki and Lemelin, which would express the body's formal disapproval of their remarks.