A Republican member of the Maine House of Representatives is facing backlash after suggesting that last year's deadly mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine — that left 18 dead and more than a dozen wounded — was vengeance from God. NBC News reported that Rep. Michael Lemelin took to the floor of the house on Thursday to condemn LD 1619, which was legislation expanding privacy rights for abortion patients that passed the same day as the October 25 shooting. He then went on to suggest that the shooting was retribution from...

Maine State Rep. Michael Lemelin (R) on Wednesday said the Lewiston mass shooting in October that left 18 people dead was a consequence from God after state lawmakers passed a law expanding abortion access in the state. In a fiery floor speech Wednesday, Lemelin warned against passing L.D.227 – which seeks to protect individuals who get abortions or gender-affirming care in Maine from facing legal consequences in other states – saying, “L.D. 227 will have severe consequences.” Lemelin said he warned last year that there would be five consequences to...

A pair of Republican state representatives in Maine apologized Thursday after claiming last year’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, that left 18 people dead was the wrath of God for pro-abortion rights legislation, after the two Republicans were threatened with censorship from House leadership over their comments. State Reps. Michael Lemelin and Shelley Rudnicki issued public apologies at the state House in Augusta on Thursday, with Lemelin saying he “accepts full responsibility for” his comments.

A pair of Maine lawmakers are facing possible censure after one said the state’s deadliest mass shooting, in Lewiston in October, was a sign of retribution from God over the passage of a law to expand abortion access by the Democratic-led state Legislature and other “immoral laws." During a floor debate Wednesday, state Republican state Rep. Michael Lemelin said God “draws a line in the sand, and when we crossed that line there’s consequences” to immoral actions. “Meditate on this, Madam Speaker,” Lemelin said, addressing House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross,...