Bombshell letter claims Governor Walz’s involvement as Vance Boelter is indicted for politically motivated killings of Melissa and Mark Hortman

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday(July 15) filed murder and stalking charges against Vance Boelter, 57, in connection with a politically motivated attack that left two prominent Minnesota political figures dead and two others critically wounded.

Boelter is accused of killing former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, at their Champlin home during the early morning hours of June 14. The attack, which prosecutors say was premeditated and politically motivated, has shaken lawmakers across the country.

“Vance Boelter planned and carried out a night of terror that shook Minnesota to its core,” said Acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson. “He carried out targeted political assassinations the likes of which have never been seen in Minnesota.”


According to the indictment, Boelter was found with multiple firearms, tactical gear, and a list of dozens of elected officials, including Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Michigan Reps. Inside his vehicle, authorities discovered five firearms, including assault-style rifles and a 9mm pistol, along with law enforcement-grade body armor and emergency lights.

The letter

A two-page handwritten letter found in Boelter’s abandoned car has stunned investigators and fueled political outrage. Addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel, the letter contains rambling, conspiratorial accusations, including a claim that Gov. Tim Walz directed Boelter to assassinate Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Tina Smith to secure political power.

“Tim Walz wanted me to kill Amy Klobuchar,” Boelter wrote, also alleging covert “off-the-books” military assignments in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Boelter claimed he refused Walz’s request and was threatened in return: “He said he would hurt my family if I didn’t play ball.” Prosecutors dismissed the letter as delusional, but confirmed its authenticity.

“The letter is filled with pure fantasy,” a Justice Department spokesperson said. “Boelter acted alone, driven by political extremism.”

Boelter was apprehended without incident after a two-day manhunt in Green Isle, Minnesota. Officials say he had been preparing for a standoff and living in near-seclusion.

Hoffman and his wife were seriously wounded in the attack but survived. The couple had been shielding their daughter during the shooting, authorities said. The Hortmans were killed less than two hours later at their home in Brooklyn Park.

The shootings drew national condemnation and renewed concerns over politically motivated violence. Former President Joe Biden paid his respects as the Hortmans lay in state at the Minnesota Capitol. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who had met with Melissa Hortman just hours before her death, called the killings a “wake-up call” on the dangers of violent political rhetoric.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether they will pursue the death penalty. Boelter appeared in federal court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty. A grand jury indicted him on charges of murder, attempted murder, stalking, and firearm violations.

“Today, a grand jury indicted Boelter with the most serious of federal charges for these heinous political assassinations,” Thompson said. “Let me be clear: Boelter will see justice.”