South Cook News

Illinois State House District 36 candidate Christine Shanahan McGovern has criticized the silence of her district's Democrats regarding the assassination attempt targeting former President Donald Trump that resulted in one fatality last weekend. In a July 14 Facebook post, she stated, "not one of them made a statement about the man shielding his wife and daughter from the bullets that cost him his life."

"Not one of our local Democratic elected officials representing District 36 made a statement on their page regarding the attempted assassination of President Trump," said Shanahan McGovern, according to Facebook. "Not one of them made a statement about the man shielding his wife and daughter from the bullets that cost him his life. Their family unit is forever changed. This purposeful attack affects every American citizen."

According to Shanahan McGovern, this attack affects every American citizen. "I am not sure if I feel more sadness for their moral character or disgust in their continued unified Democratic message of silence," she wrote. She added, "This morning I prayed to God to stop the wickedness of this world and for the hearts of Americans to find Hope. I prayed for Faith to be instilled in our neighbors and families to become once again One Nation under God."

Screenshot of Christine Shanahan McGovern's July 14 Facebook post | Christine Shanahan McGovern for IL State Representative District 36 Facebook page

As former President Trump spoke about border crossing numbers, shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks fired as many as eight shots, according to an ABC News timeline of events. Crooks, identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), had been seen by rally attendees climbing to the roof of a building 400 meters from where Trump was speaking but outside the perimeter. When the shots started, Trump reached for his right ear, then looked at his hand and crouched behind the lectern. As Secret Service agents attempted to shield Trump, he stood and pumped his fist to the crowd before being hustled off stage.

The FBI is investigating the rally attack as an act of domestic terrorism, according to a July 14 report from the Associated Press (AP). Although Crooks has been identified as the gunman, his motive remains unknown, and authorities believe he acted alone. The AP reported that Crooks is from Bethel Park, located 50 miles from the rally site. He used an AR-style rifle registered to his father during the incident.

A member of local law enforcement found Crooks; however, after he pointed the rifle at the officer, they retreated. Crooks' family is cooperating with authorities who discovered bomb-making materials in his vehicle and home.

Christine Shanahan McGovern is running as a Republican candidate for Illinois House District 36. She ran unopposed in the Republican primary in March. On her campaign website, she describes herself as a mother and business owner committed to her community where she has lived for almost 29 years.