James Thomas Hodgkinson
James Thomas Hodgkinson is an American best known for trying to assassinate members of the United States Congress.[1][2][3] He was killed by members of the Congressional Police, on June 14, 2017, who were protecting Steve Scalise, the House Majority Whip.[4][5]
Following the attack there was an intense effort on the part of the press to understand Hodgkinson's motivation, and whether there were any warning, that might have prevented the attack, if they hadn't been ignored.[1][2]
Contents
Political activity
Prolific writer of letters to the editor
After the attack Hodgkinson's home-town paper, the Belleville News Democrat published thirty letters to the editor that he had written, from March 6, 2008, to September 12, 2012.[6] Editors noted that he complained about Republicans, their tax policies, and advocated for the legalization of marijuana use.
Social media activity
Hodgkinson's facebook records showed he posted political comments to his facebook account three or four times per week.[1]
Helped campaign for Presidential aspirant Bernie Sanders, in 2016
Hodgkinson traveled to Iowa to help the Bernie Sanders campaign prepare for the Iowa Caucus.[1] According to the Washington Post, Robert Becker, a campaign official, Hodgkinson had no formal role in the campaign, and none of his staff remembered him. Becker pointed out his staff managed the efforts of 10,000 volunteers, in Iowa. The Washington Post found another volunteer, who remembered working with Hodgkinson, who found him likeable, and said he showed no sign of extremism.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ann E. Marimow, Patricia Sullivan, Shawn Boburg, Tom Jackman (2017-06-14). "Emerging portrait of shooting suspect James T. Hodgkinson: Anti-Trump rhetoric on social media, repeat visits to YMCA near Virginia ballfield". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2017-07-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20170715043955/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/law-enforcement-officials-identify-shooter-at-congressional-ballgame-as-illinois-man/2017/06/14/ba6439f4-510f-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html?utm_term=.bd4dca6f83b4. Retrieved 2017-07-14. "For weeks, James T. Hodgkinson sat in the lobby of the YMCA in Alexandria, focused on his laptop and carrying a gym bag, but never working out. His perch looked on to the field where the Republican baseball team had been practicing daily for about two months."
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tessa Stuart (2017-06-14). "Everything We Know About Alexandria Shooter James T. Hodgkinson: Sixty-six-year-old Illinois home inspector was a Bernie Sanders campaign volunteer and vocal Trump critic". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2017-06-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20170628022447/http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/alexandria-shooter-james-t-hodgkinson-everything-we-know-w488026. Retrieved 2017-07-14. "Back in Illinois' St. Clair County, he had a criminal history that dated back almost 30 years – mostly minor offenses, like failing to obtain an electrical contractor's license in 2009, with five more serious charges, including domestic battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm, all dismissed, in 2006."
- ↑ Meghan Keneally (2017-06-14). [http://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-congressional-baseball-shooting-identified/story?id=48032649 "Man who shot at GOP lawmakers had history of criminal run-ins By MEGHAN KENEALLY"]. ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-congressional-baseball-shooting-identified/story?id=48032649. Retrieved 2017-07-14. "FBI Special Agent in Charge Tim Slater said at a Wednesday evening press conference that since March Hodgkinson had been living out of his vehicle -- a white cargo van -- in Alexandria."
- ↑ "James T. Hodgkinson, 66-year-old suspect in Alexandria shooting, dies of injuries". CBS News. 2017-06-14. Archived from the original on 2017-06-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20170626075758/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-t-hodgkinson-identified-as-suspect-in-alexandria-shooting/. Retrieved 2017-06-14. "Hodgkinson made a number of posts criticizing President Trump and expressing support for independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont on his Facebook page."
- ↑ "Seeking Information: James T. Hodgkinson – Deceased". Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2017-06-14. Archived from the original on 2017-06-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20170615160846/https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/james-t-hodgkinson/download.pdf. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
- ↑ "Hodgkinson letters: ‘I have never said life sucks, only the policies of the Republicans’". Belleville News Democrat. 2017-07-14. Archived from the original on 2017-07-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20170713231413/http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article156092134.html. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
