Indiana Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski Dies In Car Accident That Also Killed 2 Staffers
Indiana Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski has died in a automobile coincidence that still killed of Walorski's staffers, House Republican leaders introduced Wednesday.
The information got here as a chief surprise on Capitol Hill and right away sparked an outpouring of grief and remembrances from lawmakers and aides who paid tribute to the lives and careers of the congresswoman and the 2 staffers.
Walorski, who became 58, represented Indiana's 2d Congressional District and had formerly served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives. She started serving in Congress in 2013.
The congresswoman became considered withinside the House Republican convention as a person who should someday ascend to the ranks of GOP leadership, and her call have been batted round for the placement of convention chairwoman withinside the past. She have been a member of the House GOP's deputy whip team.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy introduced Walorski's demise.
"Dean Swihart, Jackie's husband, became simply knowledgeable via way of means of Elkhart County Sheriff's workplace that Jackie became killed in a automobile coincidence this afternoon. She has lower back domestic to be together along with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Please maintain her own circle of relatives on your mind and prayers. We will don't have any in addition remark at this time," study a message from the congresswoman's workplace that McCarthy tweeted.
A announcement launched via way of means of the congresswoman's workplace stated that staffers had additionally died. "In addition to the devastating lack of Congresswoman Walorski, it's far with a damaged coronary heart that I announce the passing of committed contributors of her personnel, Zach Potts and Emma Thomson.
They have been the epitome of public servants who cared deeply approximately the paintings they performed," stated the announcement from Tim Cummings, the congresswoman's leader of personnel.
McCarthy referred to as the congresswoman's passing "in reality devastating" in a prolonged announcement launched afterward Wednesday.
"Jackie became a pricey friend, relied on advisor, and the embodiment of integrity who done the admiration and recognize of all her colleagues withinside the House," he stated.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered flags on the Capitol to be flown at half-personnel in reaction to the demise of the congresswoman, Pelosi deputy leader of personnel Drew Hammill introduced Wednesday afternoon.
In a announcement, Pelosi stated the congresswoman "lived a existence of service" and "became well-known via way of means of colleagues on each facets of the aisle for her private kindness."
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise stated in a announcement that Walorski "became a champion for the human beings of Indiana, and she or he could be remembered for her kindness, tenacity, and dedication to supporting others."
The congresswoman served because the pinnacle Republican at the House Ethics Committee, a niche that positioned her in line to end up chair of the panel if the GOP retakes the House majority in the approaching midterm elections.
She additionally served because the rating GOP member for a subcommittee of the effective House Ways and Means committee.
GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming tweeted in response to the information, "There became no extra committed or powerful member of Congress than Jackie," adding, "I became proud to be her friend."
Walorski died in a car crash, in step with a announcement from the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office.
"A northbound passenger automobile traveled left of middle and collided head-on with the southbound sports activities application car," the announcement stated.
All 3 occupants withinside the southbound car died because of their injuries, the announcement stated.
Longtime Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) became killed in a automobile crash in her district on Wednesday, in step with nearby officials. She became 58.
Walorski and of her staffers, Emma Thomson, 28, and Zachery Potts, 27, have been killed whilst a automobile riding the other path veered into oncoming traffic, the Elkhart County Sheriff's workplace stated in a press release.
The motive force of that automobile, Edith Schmucker, 56, became killed as nicely and an research is ongoing.
What they may be saying: "Though we got here from very extraordinary locations politically, she became constantly organized to paintings collectively wherein there has been not unusualplace ground, constantly first rate and straightforward," tweeted Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, whose fatherland of South Bend is in Walorski's district.
"She cared deeply approximately her paintings and her constituents," he added.
Tributes to Walorski from her Congressional colleagues poured in. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) referred to as her a "an amazing and honorable public servant." Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) introduced the information "with a heavy coronary heart."
Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered flags on the Capitol to be flown half-personnel in Walorski's honor.
The huge picture: Walorski’s demise is every other large loss for the Hill community, which has handled the deaths of different House contributors this year.
Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.) handed farfar from most cancers in February.
Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the longest-serving member of the House, died a month later after dropping awareness on a flight to his district.
The backdrop: Walorski became the pinnacle Republican at the House Ethics Committee and has served in Congress in view that 2013.
Before that she became a nation consultant from 2005 to 2010.
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