ST. PAUL 鈥� A federal grand jury has indicted Vance Boelter, the man accused of assassinating Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, the U.S. Attorney鈥檚 Office announced Tuesday, July 15.
Boelter, 57, has been indicted on six federal charges in connection with the stalking and murders of the Hortmans, the stalking and shooting of Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, and the attempted shooting of the Hoffmans' daughter Hope, according to the press release.
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鈥淰ance Boelter planned and carried out a night of terror that shook Minnesota to its core,鈥� Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said in a Tuesday press release. 鈥淗e carried out targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota. We grieve with the Hortman family and continue to pray for the recovery of the Hoffmans. Today, a grand jury indicted Boelter with the most serious of federal charges for these heinous political assassinations. Let me be clear: Boelter will see justice.鈥�
At a press conference Tuesday, Thompson said the charges carry punishments of life in prison or the death penalty.
鈥淭he ultimate decision as to whether to seek the death penalty will not come for several months,鈥� and will be decided by Attorney General Pam Bondi, he said.
During the press conference, Thompson provided updates on the 鈥渨ho and why?鈥� parts of the investigation. He said he is 鈥渃onfident鈥� Boelter acted alone, but that the 鈥渨hy?鈥� is a 鈥渉arder question.鈥� He said he can confirm it was an act of 鈥減olitical extremism.鈥�
A and recovered in an abandoned Buick on June 15 was unsealed to the public Tuesday. Thompson said at the press conference that the letter was addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel and includes a confession from Boelter as well as allegations that Gov. Tim Walz approached Boelter about killing Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.
鈥淏oelter claims in the letter that he wanted nothing to do with Governor Walz鈥檚 plan and that he would go public if he insisted,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淏oelter claims that people threatened to hurt his family if he didn鈥檛 participate in this plan to murder Senators Klobuchar and Smith.鈥�
The attempted shooting of Hope Hoffman was added to the charges and is included in the indictment, Thompson said Tuesday. Hope Hoffman released a statement Tuesday afternoon following the news of his indictment and the updated charges.
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鈥淚 feel relief today in knowing that the perpetrator of these heinous acts will be charged to the fullest extent of the law,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hough I was not shot physically, I will now forever coexist with the PTSD of watching my parents be nearly shot dead in front of me and seeing my life flash before my eyes with a gun in my face.鈥�
Hope Hoffman said she鈥檚 been coping with her 鈥渆stranged cousin鈥� perpetuating incorrect narratives of that night and narratives in the media about her disability, 鈥渢o create some feel-good, inspirational story.鈥�
鈥淢y parents pushed me out of the way that night,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was pretty bruised up from getting hurled against our washer, and I鈥檓 glad I was. How I didn鈥檛 get grazed is nothing short of dumb luck. I鈥檓 grateful I happened to be at my parent鈥檚 house to be able to call 911. Had I not been, they wouldn鈥檛 be here. My parents saved me, and we saved each other.鈥�
The indictment means the federal jury found enough evidence to continue with a trial for Boelter. His next hearing in federal court is scheduled for Sept. 12.
After a judge postponed Boelter鈥檚 second hearing on June 27 over jail condition concerns, Boelter waived his right to a probable cause and detention hearing on July 3 and said he is 鈥渓ooking forward to the truth and facts about [June] 14th to come to the public,鈥� according to MPR.
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