ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The case surrounding the alleged murder of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, continues to unfold as the man charged, Vance Boelter, is set to appear in federal court for a hearing. This hearing was postponed due to Boelter's lawyer raising concerns about his client's ability to sleep while in suicide watch at Sherburne County Jail.
The primary focus of the upcoming hearing is to determine whether there is sufficient probable cause to keep Boelter in custody without bail, although he is not anticipated to enter a plea at this stage. Prosecutors must first secure a grand jury indictment, which will lead to Boelter's arraignment where he will officially enter his plea.
During a previous court appearance, a disheveled Boelter, aged 57 from Green Isle, appeared wearing a green padded suicide prevention suit and orange slippers. He reported to the judge that he had been unable to sleep for 12 to 14 days and stated, "I’ve never been suicidal and I am not suicidal now." Following these claims, Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott dismissed Boelter's allegations of poor conditions as "absurd," emphasizing that he is incarcerated for the serious crimes he is accused of committing.
Boelter faces multiple charges in both federal and state courts, including murder and attempted murder, in what has been labeled by federal authorities as "a political assassination" and "a chilling attack on our democracy." The federal prosecution is proceeding first. Authorities allege that, on June 14, Boelter fatally shot Hortman and her husband in their home in Brooklyn Park, a suburb of Minneapolis, using a disguise as a police officer and a fake squad car.
In addition to the Hortmans, Boelter is also accused of shooting state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, earlier on the same day at their residence in Champlin. While the Hoffmans are recovering from their injuries, their dog, Gilbert, who belonged to the Hortmans, was seriously wounded and later had to be euthanized.
Following the shootings, Boelter managed to avoid capture for about 40 hours until he surrendered near his home on June 15, in what authorities described as the largest search operation in Minnesota's history. His attorney, Manny Atwal, has criticized the jail's conditions, asserting that since his initial court appearance on June 16, Boelter has been kept in a "Gumby suit" without undergarments, deprived of essential comforts, which impeded his ability to communicate effectively with legal counsel.
Atwal emphasized that a transfer to segregation, along with a standard jail uniform, would not only facilitate Boelter's comfort but also allow him to regain dignity and consult with his attorney more effectively. The judge granted a delay in the proceedings to address these concerns.
The gravity of the charges Boelter faces could lead to the possibility of a federal death penalty, although it remains uncertain whether prosecutors will pursue this option. While Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911, recent statements from the Attorney General hint at a more aggressive stance under the current administration concerning capital punishment cases. The defense has not yet commented on the specifics of the charges against Boelter.
Additional allegations indicate that Boelter had considered targeting more Democratic lawmakers, having reportedly identified dozens of potential targets, including officials from other states. Friends have characterized him as an evangelical Christian with conservative political beliefs. However, the prosecutors have refrained from speculating on his motives for these attacks.
The tragedy has prompted significant public attention and mourning, with prominent figures including former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris attending the memorial service for the Hortmans. Governor Tim Walz referred to Melissa Hortman as "the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history," highlighting her impact on the state’s political landscape during her tenure.
