Vance Boelter Pleads Guilty to Killing Minnesota Democrat

Vance Boelter, a 58-year-old Minnesota man, pleaded guilty to six federal charges on Thursday for his role in the June 14, 2025 attacks that killed former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. According to multiple reports, Boelter also wounded state Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette during a series of targeted shootings.

Boelter disguised himself as a police officer, wearing a tactical uniform and driving a fake police SUV with flashing lights to the legislators’ homes. He admitted to pressing a gun to Melissa Hortman’s head and firing, as well as other chilling details of the attacks. The family's golden retriever was so gravely injured that it had to be euthanized.

The guilty plea came after federal prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty in exchange for Boelter's admission of guilt. Under the terms of the plea deal, Boelter will be sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus 40 years. U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen emphasized that political violence is a serious offense and that the Justice Department will seek the longest prison terms for such crimes.

Boelter's actions sparked the largest search for a suspect in state history and reverberated across the country, with elected officials expressing concerns about escalating threats and polarization leading to more violence. The shootings were described as politically motivated by prosecutors, who released a handwritten letter Boelter wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel confessing to the attacks.

Boelter also faces state charges, including two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, felony cruelty to an animal, and impersonating a police officer. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office confirmed that the federal plea agreement does not affect the state’s case, which had been on hold pending the resolution of the federal case.