Hodgkinson, who had a history of posting angry messages against Trump and other Republicans on social media, died after being wounded by police. The US Capitol Police said Hodgkinson used a 9 mm handgun and a 7.62-caliber rifle in the shooting, and traces run by investigators showed he evidently acquired the weapons legally. "Both were purchased by the shooter from federal firearms licensees," the Capitol Police said in a statement. "We currently have no evidence to suggest that the purchases were not lawful." The FBI recovered a cellphone, computer and camera from Hodgkinson's van and was examining them for evidence, the statement said. Trump, who visited Scalise at the hospital on Wednesday, said the congressman was "in some trouble but he's going to be okay, we hope." "It's been much more difficult than people even thought at the time," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday, adding he also visited the wounded Capitol Police officer at the hospital. Vice President Mike Pence earlier on Thursday said he visited the hospital where Scalise was being treated. Republican members of Congress played their Democratic colleagues in a charity game on Thursday night at Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team, with thousands of spectators attending. The lawmakers took the field with many wearing hats to honor Scalise. When the members of the Republican team were announced, mention of Scalise's name drew a standing ovation throughout the stadium. The shooting has raised questions about lawmakers' security, renewed the nation's contentious debate over guns and drawn new attention to the harsh rhetoric that reflects America's political polarisation.Trump, in a video message played at the game, said the event had "a much deeper level of meaning" because of the shooting. "In Washington we have our disagreements, but we all agree that we are here to serve this nation we love and the people who call it home," Trump said. "That’s the source of unity and more than ever we must embrace it."Pray for #Scalise, he remains in critical condition. The bullet travelled across his pelvis, fractured bones, injured internal organs. https://t.co/oOIDuKWlpO
— Nick Short (@PoliticalShort) June 15, 2017
Pelosi criticises republicans
Many lawmakers in both parties called for unity after the shooting. But at a news conference, Pelosi bristled at comments made by a few Republicans and conservative activists who blamed heated Democratic rhetoric for the incident. "The comments made by my Republican colleagues are outrageous, beneath the dignity of the job that they hold, beneath the dignity of the respect that we would like Congress to command. How dare they say such a thing," Pelosi said.#Scalise: He remains in critical condition, but has improved in the last 24 hours. #PrayForScalise https://t.co/uz8L1V2ygu— Mike Emanuel (@MikeEmanuelFox) June 16, 2017She said Republican vitriol and caricatures of her had resulted in "calls to my home constantly, threats in front of my family, really predicated on their comments and their paid ads." Pelosi also cited past remarks by Trump, saying: "You have a president who says: 'I could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and nobody would care.'" She did not specify which comments by Republicans she objected to. Among others, Republican Representative Steve King wrote on Twitter that "violence is incited by the leading cultural voices of the Left" and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich cited an "increasing hostility on the left."
