An Illinois state senator who was harshly criticized over the weekend after pictures were posted online showing his supporters at a fundraiser taking part in a mock assassination of President Donald Trump has apologized, the New York Post reported.

Democratic Sen. Martin Sandoval released a statement in which he called the incident “unacceptable” and said, “I don’t condone violence toward the President or anyone else. I apologize that something like this happened at my event,” WCIA reported.

The photos posted online show a Sandoval backer pointing a fake machine gun at a man wearing a Trump mask and Mexican outfit, who appears to pretend being shot. In another picture, Sandoval is seen standing next to the man holding the gun.

There was bipartisan outrage at the photos of the mock assassination, with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, sharply condemning them, the Post reported.

“As our nation grapples with the epidemic of gun violence, purposely pointing a fake gun at anyone is insensitive and wrong,” the governor said. “I condemn actions like the ones displayed in the pictures because they lack the civility our politics demands.”

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider said that Sandoval’s apology is “too little, too late.”

“Dangerous imagery like this will be condemned and seen as inappropriate by people of sound mind; however, a mentally unstable individual who wants to harm President Trump might find them as an inspiration,” Schneider stressed. “It’s inexcusable for an elected official to allow the promotion of violence in any way. If the individual pictured is a staffer or volunteer, they should be terminated immediately.”

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