Maine State Rep. Michael Lemelin (R) on Wednesday said the Lewiston mass shooting in October that left 18 people dead was a consequence from God after state lawmakers passed a law expanding abortion access in the state.

In a fiery floor speech Wednesday, Lemelin warned against passing L.D.227 – which seeks to protect individuals who get abortions or gender-affirming care in Maine from facing legal consequences in other states – saying, “L.D. 227 will have severe consequences.”

Lemelin said he warned last year that there would be five consequences to passing L.D. 1619, which expanded abortion access. The first four, he said, were the storms “that wreaked havoc on Maine.” The fifth was the shooting in Lewiston, Maine.

“Meditate on this, Madam Speaker, when 1619 passed and went into law on October 25, you told God, 'Life doesn't matter,’” Lemelin said in his floor speech, adding, “Keep in mind that the law came into effect on October 25. God heard you and the horrible events on October 25 happened.”

A second state lawmaker, Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R), stood up and gave a brief statement in agreement with Lemelin’s speech.

“I just wanted to stand and say that I agree with Representative Lemelin and everything he said. Thank you," Rudnicki said.

The Hill has reached out to both Lemeliun and Rudnicki.

The remarks drew immediate condemnation in the chamber, from members on both sides of the aisle.

State Rep. Rachel Henderson (R) later rose to describe his remarks as “reprehensible.”

“Although it’s not my place, I apologize to every member who 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. I am not proud to have an ‘R’ in front of my name,” she added.

“Nowhere in the Bible do I see where the word of God is to be used as a weapon against people, or where we are told to speak on behalf of God to express his wrath to the people,” Henderson said. “The statements made today, I will not speak to the character or the motives, but those statements were reprehensible and ones that I do not support, and I do not get behind.”

State Assistant House Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier (D) issued a statement condemning the two members’ behavior.

"The remarks delivered tonight on the House floor by Rep. Lemelin and affirmed by Rep. Rudnicki insinuating that the Legislature somehow caused the October tragedy in Lewiston are as asinine as they are reprehensible. We are dismayed by this stunning lack of respect, deeply troubling absence 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,” Cloutier wrote.

“I know that I speak for the entire Lewiston House delegation in saying that these sentiments have absolutely no place in this chamber or in our public discourse and should be universally condemned by anyone who has even an ounce of basic human decency,” she added.

Lemelin and Rudnicki are slated for a censure vote Thursday, in response to their remarks on the floor the previous day.