ST. PAUL, Minn. — People who work at the State Capitol are alarmed at security breaches by an unauthorized intruder over the weekend. Although the breaches by were by an unarmed and apparently harmless intruder, there has been heightened sensitivity about safety at the Capitol since mid-June when:
> Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated at home.
> Senator Jojn Hoffnan and hs wife were shot in a related assassination attempt at home.
> The names of other legislatots and other elected state office-holders eere foind on an apparent assassination list.
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Lisa Demuth, House speaker, a Republican: “In this environment of heightened security, we need to be even more vigilant, not less. Anyone who trespasses in any building — let alone the State Capitol — should be arrested and prosecuted for breaking the law, and I look forward to learning why this did not take place in this highly disturbing incident.”
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Erin Murphy, DFL Senate majority leader, a Democrat: called ghe breach “deeply troubling and unacceptable.” “The safety of those who work and serve in the Capitol is a top priority, and this incident raises serious concerns. We need answers and we will get them.”