Who was on Minnesota suspect's hit list? House members, state lawmakers
Authorities say that Vance Boelter, 57, shot and killed former Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, at their home early Saturday and injured state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, in a shooting at their home about 8 miles away earlier the same morning.
Boelter faces a stalking charge for each lawmaker he shot, murder charges for the killings of Hortman and her husband and two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to a newly unsealed affidavit, Boelter left behind his SUV when fleeing the Hortmans' home, and police discovered several notebooks with names of more than 45 Minnesota state and federal public officials. Police also found five firearms and a 'large quantity' of ammunition. The notebooks also contained lists of internet-based search engines to query people's addresses, according to the affidavit.
'This was a targeted attack against individuals who answered the call to public service,' Alvin Winston, special agent in charge at the FBI's Minneapolis field office, said at Monday's press conference.
The lists included the names of numerous federal lawmakers, several of whom have publicly stated that the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) informed them that their names were on the list.
Names of both U.S. senators from Minnesota — Democrats Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar — were included on the list, according to local news outlets, which reported that other names of Minnesota lawmakers, as well as abortion providers, were included on the list.
Minnesota Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison said they were included on the list, Axios reported.
The list reportedly named several Michigan Democrats, as well.
Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.) postponed a town hall scheduled for Monday night out of an 'abundance of caution.' Her spokesperson confirmed to The Hill that USCP informed the office that the congresswoman's name was on the list.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) was on the list but declined to cancel her town hall Monday night, her spokesperson confirmed to The Hill.
Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) said on X that USCP informed his office that his name was listed 'in documents found in the possession of the alleged Minnesota shooter.'
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) said he was informed by Capitol Police on Sunday morning — at which point the suspect was still at large — that his name appeared on the suspect's list. Landsman said he worked with the Cincinnati Police Department to arrange additional security for himself and his family.
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) also said she was notified that 'my name was included in the suspect's materials,' and her 'security measures were increased.' She thanked the USCP and the Columbus Police Department for their response.
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) said on Monday that she is 'aware' that her name was 'on one of the many documents recovered from the vehicle of the suspect in Minnesota.'
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) were also included on the list, according to local reports.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) told the San Antonio Express-News that USCP told his chief of staff that Castro's name was included on that list.
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) also said USCP informed her that hers was a name included on 'the Minnesota shooter's list of targets.'
A spokesperson for USCP declined to say which lawmakers were named on the list but said, 'Since we were notified of the violence targeting lawmakers in Minnesota, we have been working around the clock with our Congressional, federal, state and local partners to ensure that the Members of Congress impacted by this terrible event have a strong security plan.'
'We continue to closely coordinate with the House and Senate Sergeant at Arms to enhance security for Members of Congress. Their partnerships, along with assistance from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across the country, are extremely important to keep everyone safe,' the spokesperson continued.
'For safety and security reasons, we will not discuss those details, but we will continue to focus on continuing intelligence sharing with our partners and providing proactive enhancements,' the spokesperson added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
7 minutes ago
- USA Today
An unusual six months in Congress of long days and short fuses
Just over six months in, this Congress has witnessed all-nighters, extra-long votes and flaring personalities. 'I will say again - I am tired of making history. I just want (a) normal Congress,' House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said. His comments to reporters in early July came as the House concluded a more than seven-hour vote, then the longest in the chamber's history (a milestone hit after the chamber had already broken the record a week earlier). Of course, the increasingly partisan, combative, and at times, chaotic atmosphere had infiltrated the modern Congress before Johnson or his Senate counterpart, Majority Leader John Thune, took the gavel. But more than six months in, the 119th Congress has seen its share of unusual or unprecedented moments, from extraordinarily long votes to all-nighter sessions. Here's a look at some of the notable moments of the not "normal" kickoff for the 119th. 'All by myself' House lawmakers this year first surpassed the record for the longest House vote while deliberating President Donald Trump's so-called 'big, beautiful bill' on July 2. The vote was held open for seven hours and 23 minutes. Members of Congress filtered in and out of the chamber, mostly congregating off the floor for deals and debates. But someone, by rule, had to supervise the chamber. More: Which way will Senate swing in 2026? Here are 11 pivotal races that will decide. That lucky representative was Arkansas' Steve Womack. Womack, a Republican, had the task of presiding over the floor starting at 11:45 a.m. and staying at the dais well into the evening. 'I'm told he is very very bored,' NBC's Melanie Zanona posted at the time, 'and singing the Eric Carmen song 'ALL BY MYSELF' to himself.' Meanwhile, House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, had his own way of killing time. 'Five,' Cole said, when a reporter asked him, around 5 p.m., how many cigars he had so far that day. 'Is that a lot or a little?' one reporter followed up. 'Certainly not a lot,' Cole replied. Senate burns the midnight oil. A lot. Senators also have plenty of time-consuming accomplishments to boast about, were such efforts to be lauded. The upper chamber kicked off July by barely topping a record set in 2008 for the longest 'vote-a-rama' – Washington parlance for a marathon series of votes on amendments to budget bills. Earlier this summer, Democrats were responsible for the bulk of the 45 proposals to revise Trump's sweeping tax, spending and policy bill. It was one more amendment than what senators almost two decades ago had spent hours voting on. The chamber has had three cases of a 'vote-a-rama' so far this year. Often, they mean overnight sessions that stretch more than a dozen hours. The series in early July was an unusual daylight occurrence, though, beginning a little after 9 a.m. on a Monday and lasting past noon the next day. Long days, short fuses After being elected majority leader by his colleagues, Thune promised more working days for a body of government that many Americans accuse of being allergic to work. That mostly meant adding Fridays to the work calendar (though the chamber has been about 50-50 on coming in those Fridays). More recently, there was talk of scrapping senators' typical summer break and instead staying in town to plow through a backlogged agenda. Some congressional correspondents who'd worked through the session thus far weren't so sure about the idea. More: All work and no play: House heads out while Senate eyes skipping summer break 'The Senate really, really needs a recess,' senior HuffPost Igor Bobic wrote online. But after a Saturday slog Aug. 2, lawmakers finally called it and fled the capital for their home states. The House and Senate are both set to return to town Sept. 2. And with a deadline to keep the government funded looming at the end of the month, a broiling debate over Jeffrey Epstein's case files ongoing, and overall tensions still simmering, Speaker Johnson and the rest of the legislative branch are not likely to see a 'normal Congress' anytime soon.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
LI's Suffolk county offering tax breaks to NYC companies who relocate if Mamdani becomes mayor
Forget, Florida — come out East! Suffolk County will offer tax breaks to Big Apple companies to relocate there if Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor of New York City, the Long Island region's top official said Sunday. 'If Mr. Mamdani wins, I'm going to encourage many of the corporations that do business in New York City [to] come to Suffolk' about 70 miles east, County Executive Ed Romaine said on WABC 770 AM's 'Cats Roundtable' show. Advertisement Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine is urging New York City corporations to relocate to Suffolk if Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor. Dennis A. Clark 'We're going to give them tax breaks. They're going to be able to do better,' Romaine told host John Catsimatidis. Romaine made his alluring pitch to CEOs after Catsimatidis told him that Florida officials are trying to recruit Big Apple CEOs to relocate their firms to the Sunshine State, where many New York transplants already live. Advertisement Romaine said there's no need to travel that far south. 'Come out to Suffolk,' Romaine said. Romaine, a Republican, said he doesn't believe that Mamdani, currently a 33-year-old state assemblyman representing Astoria and western Queens, has the experience and wisdom to run the nation's largest metropolis. Mamdani has proposed raising taxes on billionaires and corporations in the city. LP Media Advertisement He noted that Mamdani's proposed free-bus fare program for the city 'sounds great' — but said someone has to pay for it. Mamdani has proposed $9 billion in higher taxes on billionaires and corporations to subsidize such initiatives as free bus fares, expanded free childcare and more affordable housing. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! 'The taxpayers who pay the taxes, how much are they going to put up with?' Romaine said. Advertisement He said New York state is already suffering from an exodus because of the high cost of living that includes hefty taxes. Mamdani campaign spokeswoman Dora Pekec responded in a statement to The Post, 'Working people are being pushed out of the city they built, and it's because of corrupt politicians like [former Gov.] Andrew Cuomo and [current Mayor] Eric Adams,' who are running against her boss in November. 'Zohran will make this city affordable, and deliver a quality of life that ensures New York City is a magnet for workers, businesses, and opportunity,' the rep said.
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
‘More like a blue trickle': Dems are hoping for a blue wave that might not happen
That suggests Democrats are having trouble capitalizing on what they say is Republicans' shaky handling of economic and foreign policy. Around this time in 2017 — ahead of Democrats' monster 2018 blue wave year in which they gained a net of 41 House seats — Democrats were up about 6 percentage points in the generic ballot, noted Taglia, the Emerson pollster. That doesn't mean the blue wave dream is dead. Election Day is still 15 months away, and that same Emerson poll shows about a quarter of voters are currently undecided on the congressional ballot. Americans could start feeling the impacts of the megabill and other marquee policies like mass deportations well into campaign season, which could offer Democrats an opportunity to win back some voters who swung right in 2024. 'If we get to March of next year and we still see Democrats at 2 or 3 points up in the generic ballot, that is alarm bells for them,' Taglia said. 'They're going to want to be at least 4 points up. For their ideal result, probably more like 6 points … Then you're starting to look a little bit like a blue wave.' Redistricting could bite into Democrats' opportunities Texas Republicans unveiled a new congressional map Wednesday that, if enacted, would carve out five additional red-leaning districts. Those efforts, done at the behest of Trump, could throw a monkeywrench in Democrats' plans to reclaim the House. Now Democrats are trying to reforge relationships with voters in four newly created majority-Hispanic districts in Texas who swung right in 2024. 'Donald Trump and Texas Republicans are playing a dangerous game, and we're ready to defeat now-vulnerable Republicans next November,' said CJ Warnke, a spokesperson for House Majority PAC, Democrats' top House super PAC. 'We're bringing the full weight of our operation to the Lone Star State to make this backroom deal backfire and take back the House in 2026.' Republicans also hope to squeeze out a few more red districts in other states. Control of the House hinges on razor-thin majorities, and those redistricting efforts alone could significantly stymie Democrats' ability to retake the chamber. Some Democratic governors, including California's Gavin Newsom and New York's Kathy Hochul, have threatened retaliatory gerrymandering crusades ahead of midterms, though it's unclear how feasible these efforts will be because those states have ceded redistricting power to independent commissions, unlike Texas. Those states would have to rely on voter referenda or court orders to claw back this power, and they only have until early 2026 to pull it off. Tanden says she's optimistic California can counter Texas's gerrymandering by 2026. 'If someone was like, 'while Trump is president we're going to get rid of the commission,' people would be down with that.' Democrats are facing down messy primaries House Democrats are facing crowded primaries across the map. Some in the party worry that months of fighting over intraparty tactics or thorny issues like Israel's war in Gaza could splinter voters and drain resources that could be used in the general election. Democratic infighting over the idea of challenging incumbents has roiled the Democratic National Committee, where former Vice Chair David Hogg lost his position amid consternation over his plan to primary 'asleep at the wheel' Democrats.
