Man Accused of Killing Minnesota Lawmaker Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

Vance Boelter pleaded guilty to six charges stemming from a June 2025 shooting that killed a Minnesota Democratic lawmaker and her husband and injured two others. The plea in a Minnesota federal court Thursday came one day after prosecutors declined to pursue the death penalty as part of an agreement.

Prosecutors recommended a sentence of two consecutive life terms plus 40 years, according to a report from CBS. The judge accepted the plea deal and indicated that the court would likely accept the sentencing recommendation. The sentence is expected to be handed down next month.

Melissa Hortman, the former speaker of the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot and killed at their home on June 14, 2025. Boelter also shot and injured state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, who survived the attack when their daughter was able to lock the door and call 911.

The Hoffman family said there is “no justice” for the Hortmans in a statement after Boelter’s guilty plea.

“While the legal process may provide accountability, true healing requires something more from all of us,” the Hoffmans’ statement said, calling on Minnesotans and Americans “to treat people with respect, to stop de-humanizing each other, and to stop dividing our country with hate and rhetoric.”

Boelter’s attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the terms of the agreement, but the plea deal was approved by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday.

“The Attorney General has authorized and directed the government not to seek the death penalty against Defendant Vance Luther Boelter in accordance with the terms delineated in a proposed plea agreement,” assistant U.S. attorneys Bradley M. Endicott and Matthew D. Forbes wrote in a letter to the court.

Boelter faces additional state-level charges stemming from the shooting, including impersonating a police officer and felony animal cruelty for shooting the Hortmans’ dogs during the attack. The state’s case has been on hold pending the resolution of the federal case.

Officials said last year that Boelter visited the homes of four Minnesota lawmakers. Wearing a face mask and body armor, Boelter attempted to disguise himself as a law enforcement officer while carrying out the shootings. The ensuing two-day manhunt for Boelter was the largest in Minnesota history.

“Vance Luthor Boelter went on a violent rampage against our elected officials,” Joe Thompson, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota, said shortly after the shootings.

Minnesota’s Democratic governor, Tim Walz, described the attack at the time as “a politically motivated assassination.”

During court proceedings in the federal case, prosecutors released a letter from Boelter to FBI Director Kash Patel that claimed Walz instructed him to kill the lawmakers. The rambling text of the letter said other targets included Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Boelter also claimed that he was “trained by US military off the books.”