A Minnesota man accused of carrying out a politically motivated killing spree claimed in a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel that Governor Tim Walz directed him to murder U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. The letter was discovered during a high-profile manhunt that followed the deaths of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.
Vance Boelter faces federal charges of stalking and murder in connection with the killings of the Hortmans and the attempted murders of three members of the Hoffman family. A federal grand jury has indicted Boelter on the most serious charges available, and he could face the death penalty.
In the indictment unsealed this week, officials revealed Boelter had written a letter addressed to Patel, which was later recovered from an abandoned vehicle. In it, Boelter claimed Governor Walz encouraged him to assassinate Senators Klobuchar and Smith so the governor could secure one of their seats. The claim has not been corroborated by evidence and appears to reflect Boelter’s unstable mental state as documented in the case.
Boelter was apprehended on June 15 near his home in Green Isle after evading authorities for nearly two days. Federal prosecutors described the rampage as a night of terror and a direct attack on Minnesota’s democratic institutions. U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson stated Boelter’s actions constituted unprecedented political violence in the state.
Boelter’s alleged crimes were meticulously planned, according to a federal affidavit, including the purchase of a getaway vehicle and electric bike. FBI officials noted the case involved hundreds of law enforcement personnel and remains one of the most intense manhunts in Minnesota history.
