AUGUSTA, Maine — A Republican lawmaker drew bipartisan rebukes late Wednesday after using a floor speech to blame an abortion-rights expansion passed by Democrats last year for a reaction from God that caused the Lewiston mass shooting.
Rep. Michael Lemelin, R-Chelsea, was speaking against a “shield bill” backed by Democrats that aims to protect out-of-state patients who get abortions or gender-affirming care here from legal action in conservative-led states. His comments centered on a controversial bill passed last year that allowed doctors to perform abortions after a prior viability cutoff.
On the House floor, Lemelin said this year’s bill came from “Lucifer himself.” He went on to call abortion “murder” and said “transgender is a slap in God’s face.” He then noted that last year’s abortion law took effect on Oct. 25, the same day of the shooting that killed 18 people and injured another 13 at a Lewiston bowling alley and bar.
“God heard you, and the horrible events on Oct. 25 happened,” Lemelin said.
The lawmaker was ruled out of order by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, after Rep. Marc Malon, D-Biddeford, rose to raise a point of order that Lemelin’s remarks were violating House rules against impugning members and asked him to “stand down.”
Rep. Shelley Rudnicki, R-Fairfield, then rose to say she agreed with everything Lemelin had said. The Democratic-led chamber then voted 80-70 for the so-called shield bill sponsored by Rep. Anne Perry, D-Calais. Republicans have mobilized strongly against it, but it looks poised to pass the Democratic-led Legislature.
At the end of the floor session, Rep. Rachel Henderson, R-Rumford, said she was upset that the bill passed but called Lemelin’s comments “reprehensible” and that she knew of nowhere in the Bible where Christians are told to “speak on behalf of God to express His wrath.”
“Although it’s not my place, I apologize to every member that was here and heard that and took offense,” Henderson said. “I’m proud of where I stand. I’m proud of the positions that I take, but tonight, I am not proud to be a Republican.”
Lemelin’s remarks were condemned by Assistant House Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, who called them “as asinine as they are reprehensible” in a statement.
“We are dismayed by this stunning lack of empathy and infuriating disregard for the victims, their families and everyone in our community whose hearts remain shattered by this horrific act of senseless violence,” she said.
Lemelin is a second-term lawmaker serving communities outside of Augusta. He was reelected in 2022 with nearly 58 percent of votes. He serves on the Legislature’s health and human services committee and is a former commercial airline pilot.