This past Saturday, two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota and their spouses were shot in what authorities are calling a politically motivated assassination. Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot 17 times and remain hospitalized with serious injuries.
The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, was arrested late Sunday by Minnesota State Police. Authorities say he impersonated a police officer to gain access to the victims’ homes. A “kill list” was found in his vehicle, reportedly naming dozens of Democratic officials including Governor Tim Walz, Representative Ilhan Omar, Attorney General Keith Ellison, political leaders from neighboring states, and several abortion providers and pro-choice advocates.
In response, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter demanding a briefing from the Department of Justice, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security. The letter cites recent cuts to federal counterterrorism and hate crime prevention programs and calls for an explanation of the agencies’ current ability to respond to domestic threats. Raskin’s letter also referenced other recent violent incidents, including an arson attempt on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence, a shooting in Boulder, Colorado, and the murder of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington, D.C.
Click here to read the full letter.
(AI was used in part to facilitate this article.)
