Former President Joe Biden pays respects to Hortmans, visits Hoffmans at the hospital
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Former President Joe Biden was among the hundreds of people to pay their respects to Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark on Friday. He also visited with Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.
Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their golden retriever Gilbert were lying in state at the Capitol on Friday ahead of their funeral on Saturday. The Hortmans and their dog were fatally shot nearly two weeks ago, with the Hoffmans were injured in the shootings.
Hundreds of people, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, were at the Capitol Friday to pay their respects to the Hortmans.
President Biden visits Hortmans
Former President Joe Biden pays respects to Hortman family
Former President Joe Biden visited the State Capitol on Friday and paid his respects at the Hortman lie in state, where the bodies of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their golden retriever Gilbert rest ahead of a funeral Saturday.
Local perspective:
Biden walked into the Capitol at about 4:20 p.m. on Friday. He slowly walked up to the memorial for the Hortmans and then stopped at the caskets for Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman, as well as an urn for Gilbert. Biden did a sign of the cross, paused for some reflection and slowly walked away.
As he exited, he engaged in conversation with three women who were overcome with emotion.
Biden visits John, Yvette Hoffman
Dig deeper:
Before paying his respects to the Hortmans at the Minnesota State Capitol, Biden visited Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at a Twin Cities hospital on Friday. John Hoffman is still in the hospital after being shot nine times, while his wife, Yvette, was struck eight times by gunfire. They were shot at their Champlin home.
Yvette Hoffman shared a statement, along with a photo featuring Biden from the hospital on Friday.
"John’s condition continues to improve. He is alert, he’s been up walking around and is able to eat. He’s also giving the State Troopers guarding him some grief," Yvette Hoffman said.
Gov. Tim Walz, Gwen Walz pay respects
Remembering the Hortmans: Lie in at State Capitol
Hundreds were at the State Capitol on Friday as Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and their dog Gilbert had a lie in ahead of Saturday's funeral service. FOX 9's Corin Hoggard was there.
Why you should care:
Gov. Tim Walz and his wife, Gwen, were among the first political dignitaries to go through the line. They walked in together holding hands and paused briefly before making their way through the rotunda.