Maine House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross on Thursday sanctioned two Republican lawmakers who suggested that last year's mass shooting in Lewiston was God's punishment for Democrats expanding abortion access.
In a letter to state Reps. Mike Lemelin, R-Chelsea, and Shelly Rudnicki, R-Fairfield, the speaker said that neither legislator will be allowed to speak or vote until they issue a formal apology to their constituents and victims and survivors of the worst mass shooting in state history.
Talbot Ross told Lemelin that his 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."
She went on to say that both lawmakers were in violation of a House rule governing decorum for members.
Later on Thursday the House voted to censure both lawmakers, a rare act in the Maine Legislature that is recorded in the body's historical record.
The censure vote was unanimous and both lawmakers were called to the well of the House to hear Talbot Ross' rebuke of their conduct.
Rudnicki and Lemelin then returned to their seats and apologized for their comments.
Lemelin's remarks came during debate over a bill that would shield abortion and transgender care providers. He had already drawn objections for suggesting that the bill was evil and influenced by the devil. But later in the debate he went further by suggesting that God had beset the Lewiston gunman on innocent people as they played pool, cornhole and bowled on Oct. 25. He said the shootings that killed 18 people and wounded 13 others were divine punishment for Democrats expanding abortion access last year.
"Keep in mind that law came into effect on Oct. 25," Lemelin said. "God heard you and the horrible events of Oct. 25 happened."
Lemelin also suggested that the severe storms that have ravaged the state over the past several months were acts of divine vengeance.
Rudnicki later defended Lemelin by telling her House colleagues she agreed with everything he said.
Multiple lawmakers from both sides of the aisle condemned the comments, which were featured prominently on social media.
"The GOP are now blaming mass shootings on abortion," California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said on the site formerly known as Twitter. "This Rep says that the horrific mass shooting at Lewiston was the result of God's wrath after Maine expanded access to abortion. Seriously."
The bill that prompted Lemelin's remarks, LD 227, seeks to shield health care professionals who provide abortions or gender-affirming care to patients who travel to Maine from states where such care is restricted or illegal. Supporters say the measure is necessary because attorneys general in more restrictive states have threatened to investigate cases where individuals traveled to more lenient states to receive abortions or transgender care.
But opponents warned that it could violate parental rights and point out that Maine sheriffs and chiefs of police opposed the bill out of concerns that it could impede their work with agencies in other states.
The Democratic-controlled House and Senate have both given preliminary approval to the bill. It faces additional procedural votes in both chambers.
