Latest news with #VanceBoelter
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hoffman family releases statement about Hortman funeral
State Sen. John Hoffman and his family released a statement Sunday saying that as they recover from their injuries, their thoughts are with the family of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, who authorities say were slain by the same man who shot Hoffman and his wife two weeks ago. The Hortmans were shot and killed on June 14 at their home in Brooklyn Park in an attack believed to be politically motivated. The Hortmans were among four shot by a suspected assassin now facing federal and state murder charges. Vance Boelter, 57, is also accused of shooting Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, as their daughter Hope called 911. All three survived the attack at their Champlin home. Prosecutors allege Boelter also visited the homes of two other state lawmakers he had planned to shoot. 'We are devastated by the loss of Melissa, Mark, and their dog, Gilbert,' the statement read. 'Their tragic passing has left a profound sadness for all who knew them and whose lives they touched. We all watched the service; it was heartbreakingly beautiful. Our hearts are with the Hortman family in this time of immense grief.' The statement said that Hoffman, his wife Yvette and daughter Hope were continuing to heal but face a long road ahead. 'All three of us were lined up at gunpoint. We're continuing to recover from physical injuries and emotional trauma from this senseless act of violence,' the statement read. 'Hope's bruises from the attack continue to heal. We're so grateful she happened to be at our house that night. There's no doubt her call to 911 saved the lives of others.' The statement said the family is grateful for the care and support they have received and that they know 'justice will be served for both of our families as the legal process gets underway.' 'Right now, our focus is on healing and honoring the lives that were taken. To all of you who went to the State Capitol to pay your respects to Melissa, Mark and Gilbert, we want you to know we were there with you in spirit.' Remembering the Hortmans: Lives devoted to service and community A slain Minnesota lawmaker's beloved dog, Gilbert, stays with her as she and her spouse lie in state Letters: Iran should be a warning against authoritarian control Biden joins Minnesotans in paying respects as Hortmans lie in state at Capitol Vance Boelter federal hearing pushed back because he's been on suicide watch
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota Rep. Kristin Bahner reveals she was 4th lawmaker visited by Vance Boelter
Minnesota Rep. Kristin Bahner reveals she was 4th lawmaker visited by Vance Boelter originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove) has revealed herself as the fourth Minnesota lawmaker whose home was visited by Vance Boelter on the night he allegedly assassinated Melissa and Mark Hortman, crediting "divine intervention" with sparing her family from the same tragedy. "The past several days have been surrounded by so much grief and fear. This senseless violence came to my door as well, placing me and my family in harm's way," Bahner said in a statement Wednesday. "I do not know why this man was filled with such hatred that he would come to my door; divine intervention led my family to change our plans keeping us safe." Federal charged filed against suspect Vance Boelter allege that he visited the homes of two other legislators early Saturday after he shot and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in Champlin and before he killed the Hortmans in Brooklyn Park. The other was Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), who thanked police for saving her life by stopping by her house to perform a wellness check immediately following the attack on the Hoffmans. Before parking outside of Rest's home and being scared off by a New Hope officer, Boelter rang Bahner's doorbell in Maple Grove, but no one was home, according to prosecutors. 'There is no answer to this senseless violence," Bahner said. "I know Melissa would have grounded us in how we come together to lean on one another, find a way to lift each other up, and strengthen Minnesota for all of our neighbors." Bahner plans to honor Melissa Hortman's legacy by remaining steadfast in her resolve to serve District 37B in north Hennepin County and work to improve the lives of all Minnesotans. 'We will not let fear or division win," Bahner said. "Melissa has set a high bar, placing the work in our hands to make the world a better place.' This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota shooting suspect's wife offers sympathies to lawmakers' families
Jenny Boelter, the wife of the Minnesota shooting suspect, extended her sympathies to the families of the lawmakers and spouses who were slain or seriously wounded in their homes earlier this month. In a statement provided through a legal representative, Boelter said she was 'absolutely shocked' and 'horrified' by the shootings and was cooperating fully with law enforcement. 'On behalf of my children and myself, I want to express our deepest sympathies to the Hortman and Hoffman families. Our condolences are with all who are grieving during this unimaginably difficult time, and we are praying daily for them,' Boelter said in the statement. 'We are absolutely shocked, heartbroken and completely blindsided,' she continued. 'This violence does not at all align with our beliefs as a family. It is a betrayal of everything we hold true as tenets of our Christian faith.' 'We are appalled and horrified by what occurred and our hearts are incredibly heavy for the victims of this unfathomable tragedy,' she added. Former Minnesota state Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home early on June 14. Shortly before that, according to authorities, the same gunman shot and wounded another Democratic lawmaker, state Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, a few miles away in their home. Vance Boelter was charged with a series of state and federal crimes, including murder, in connection to the shootings. He ultimately surrendered to authorities on June 15 after what officials described as the largest search in the state's history. He has not entered a plea and remains in jail, according to The Associated Press. Jenny Boelter stressed in her statement that she and her family have 'fully cooperated with investigators and responded to their every request,' since they first contacted her hours after the shooting. 'On the morning of June 14, 2025, I received a call from law enforcement and immediately drove to meet agents at a nearby gas station. We were not pulled over; we parked and waited until they arrived. When they did, we voluntarily agreed to meet with them, answer their questions, provide all the items they requested, and cooperate with all searches,' the statement read. She thanked law enforcement for apprehending her husband. 'We are grateful for the diligent and professional efforts to the authorities to fully investigate these crimes. We thank law enforcement for apprehending Vance and protecting others from further harm.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Ignores Funeral Service for Victims of MAGA Madman
President Donald Trump skipped the funeral of slain Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Among the hundreds in attendance at the service were former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, who paid their respects to the couple slain in what authorities say was a plot targeting Democrats. A eulogy at the Catholic service was given by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, whose eyes were red from crying. 'Maybe this is a moment when each of us can examine the way we work together, the way we talk about each other, the way we fight for the things we care about,' Walz said. 'A moment when each of us can recommit to engaging in politics and life the way Mark and Melissa did: fiercely, enthusiastically, heartily, but without ever losing sight of our common humanity.' The president, however, was not there. Trump didn't issue a statement about the funeral, either. And The White House did not immediately return a request for comment on his absence. The man suspected of killing the Hortmans is Vance Boelter, 57, who was arrested two days after the June 14 attacks, in which state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot and injured. Boelter's car contained a list of potential targets, including his victims, Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Sen. Tina Smith—as well as abortion providers and advocates. A friend of Boelter's described him as a 'strong' supporter of Trump's. Although Trump did not mention the funeral service on social media, he did post several times on Saturday, touting low gas prices and his 'big, beautiful' bill. According to Fox News, Trump spent the morning golfing with Republican senators Eric Schmitt, Lindsey Graham, and Rand Paul and CIA director John Ratcliffe. 'WHY ARE THE DEMOCRATS ALWAYS ROOTING AGAINST AMERICA???,' Trump wrote in one post, hours before Hortman and her husband were laid to rest. In the immediate wake of the shootings, Trump chose not to call Walz and offer support. 'I could call him and say, 'Hi, how you doing?'' Trump said. 'The guy doesn't have a clue. He's a mess. So, you know, I could be nice and call him, but why waste time?' Melissa Hortman, 55, was the top Democrat in Minnesota's House of Representatives. She had previously served as the speaker. The two were shot dead at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The couple is survived by their two adult children: daughter Sophie, 28, and son Colin, 30, who wept as Saturday's service began, according to The New York Times. During his eulogy, Walz did not linger on the manner of the couple's death, instead focusing on their lives. He mentioned their love for gardening, playing billiards, and making sourdough, according to the Times. The day before the funeral, Melissa and Mark Hortman—and their beloved dog, Gilbert—lay in state at the Minnesota State Capitol, as thousands of people, including Biden, paid them tribute. Again, Trump was nowhere to be seen.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
What we know in the aftermath of the Minnesota shootings
Tremors spread though the political world on Monday after the weekend's fatal shooting of a Democratic lawmaker and her spouse in Minnesota, and another shooting, allegedly by the same perpetrator, that injured a second lawmaker and his wife. The suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, was apprehended late Sunday. He faces murder charges in state courts. On Monday, federal prosecutors also charged him with murder. Boelter is accused of killing Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark, at their home in a Minneapolis suburb in the early hours of Saturday. Prosecutors allege that, shortly before, he had shot state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, at their home. The Hoffmans have undergone surgery and are expected to survive. Here's what we know so far. A major development Monday came with the unveiling of the federal charges against Boelter — and the details from prosecutors that accompanied those charges. Boelter has been charged with murder and stalking. Federal prosecutors allege that the suspect had visited a total of four lawmakers' homes. In addition to the two where shootings took place, he is said to have visited an address where his target was not home, and to have left another address without opening fire, perhaps because of police presence there. Prosecutors did not identify the lawmaker, but state Sen. Ann Rest (D) identified herself, saying that she had been told that Boelter had been close to her home during the hours in question. She thanked local police officers for having 'saved my life.' Authorities said other documentation appeared to show that Boelter had been planning the attacks for months. Boelter apparently had a list of targets, as well as copious other plans. Both of Minnesota's senators, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D) and Tina Smith (D), have confirmed that they were on the list. An unnamed law enforcement officer told The New York Times that Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.) and Angie Craig (D-Minn.) were also among the targets. Boelter's lists also extended beyond Minnesota. Abigail Leavins, a reporter for a website that covers politics in Wisconsin, said that Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) were also confirmed to be among the potential targets. Lawrence Andrea of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) was on the list, too. Multiple media outlets have reported that all the politicians allegedly targeted are Democrats. The list also appears to have included some addresses associated with reproductive rights, including abortion providers and Planned Parenthood clinics. Federal authorities have declined to identify a clear and specific political motive so far. But media interviews of Boelter's friends and acquaintances have formed a picture of a socially conservative, vigorously anti-abortion figure who, at least one friend said, supported President Trump in last year's election. In one clip available online, he delivers a sermon to an audience in Africa complaining that many American churches 'are so messed up they don't know abortion is wrong.' His roommate told reporters that Boelter was 'a Trump supporter' who 'would be offended if people called him a Democrat.' The tragedy of the killings was soon followed by a political firestorm. The instigator was Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who on Sunday posted a photo on social media of the suspect with the caption, 'This is what happens when Marxists don't get their way.' A short time after, Lee sent another post with two photos of the suspect, including one in which he was wearing a mask, with the caption 'Nightmare on Waltz Street.' This was widely interpreted as a reference to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), former Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate in the 2024 election. Influencers within the online right have been floating a conspiracy theory about Walz and the shooter, based on the fact that Walz had reappointed Boelter to a state economic panel in 2019. Democrats and liberals reacted furiously. Klobuchar told MSNBC on Monday that she 'condemned' what Lee had done and said she would 'speak to him about this' when they next met. 'What I'm going to tell him is: This isn't funny,' Klobuchar added. Smith, at the Capitol, told reporters she was also seeking out Lee for a conversation. The Hill's Al Weaver posted a photo of the two in conversation soon afterward. Weaver also reported that Smith told reporters she wanted Lee to hear from her directly 'about how painful that was and how brutal that was to see that on what was just a horrible, brutal weekend.' Caroline Gleich, who was the Democratic nominee in last year's Senate race in Utah — ultimately losing to Lee's colleague Sen. John Curtis (R) — told The Hill in a video interview that Lee's posts were 'absolutely despicable.' Lee has not deleted the posts. His office did not respond to an invitation to comment. The hours since the shooting have seen significant misinformation. The Minnesota Star Tribune was among the news outlets trying to push the tide of confusion back. It noted that many members on the state board on which Boelter once served 'were not politically connected [nor] would have meaningful access to the governor.' Board members are purportedly appointed because of their insights into particular industries or areas of knowledge, not because they reflect a governor's ideology. A source in Walz's office also told the Star Tribune the governor did not know Boelter. The news organization also noted that, contrary to online speculation, Boelter's wife had never served as an intern for Walz. There appears to have been some confusion over another person with the same name, married to someone else. But at times, careful reporting seems little match for the tsunami of often-erroneous social media speculation. Reams have been written about the growing polarization of American politics over the past few decades. But there is a lot of evidence that the nation's political gulf just keeps getting wider and more bitter. The shootings in Minnesota are sure to produce more questions about where this will all lead. Trump himself was almost killed last July during a rally in Pennsylvania. A California man in April pleaded guilty to trying to kill conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Several men were convicted in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) in 2020. With no end in sight to the enmity in the political system, attention is turning to increasing security for lawmakers and others in public life. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) — along with the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, Rep. Joe Morelle (N.Y.) — wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday asking to increase the amount of money available to lawmakers to bolster security. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
