Sen. Martin Sandoval of Illinois has apologized after pictures were posted online of a group of supporters at his fundraiser last Friday night that were pictured in a mock performance assassinating the President of the United States.
In one image, a man can be seen pointing a machine gun at another person wearing a Donald Trump mask. The masked man appears to be grabbing his chest, as if he had been shot. Sandoval can be seen separately posing with the man who held the fake weapon.
According to WCIA, the performance was acted out in front of guests at Sandoval’s fundraising event.
The photos were condemned by both the Democrat and Republican parties of Illinois.
“The tragedies in El Paso and Gilroy have demonstrated how hate-filled political rhetoric can fuel violence,” Maura Possley, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Illinois, said. “These images are unacceptable and dangerous. The place to make our voices heard against Trump is at the ballot box.”
Sandoval apologized after the photos became public, saying, “The incident that took place is unacceptable,” he said. “I don’t condone violence toward the President or anyone else. I apologize that something like this happened at my event.”
