A defendant facing charges in the political killings of Minnesota’s top Democratic House leader and her spouse is scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday to modify his not-guilty plea, following prosecutors’ announcement that they will not pursue capital punishment.
The Minneapolis U.S. attorney’s office informed the court Wednesday that the Justice Department will not seek the death penalty against Vance Boelter under the terms of a proposed plea deal. Boelter’s legal team has not yet responded to requests for comment, and the court documents did not reveal specifics about the agreement’s conditions.
Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, along with state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were attacked by a gunman who arrived at their residences in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025. The assailant was dressed as a police officer and used a counterfeit patrol vehicle. The Hortmans’ golden retriever sustained such severe injuries that the animal had to be put down.
Boelter, age 58, was apprehended near his residence in rural Green Isle the following evening after what authorities described as Minnesota’s most extensive manhunt for a criminal suspect. He is facing both federal and state charges including murder, attempted murder, and additional offenses. His state prosecution has been suspended while federal charges are resolved.
Minnesota eliminated the death penalty in 1911 and has no history of federal capital cases. Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, indicated the federal plea arrangement would not impact Boelter’s state charges.
Although the Trump administration has advocated for expanded use of capital punishment, there were uncertainties about whether Boelter’s case would meet federal death penalty criteria.
Authorities have characterized the shootings as politically motivated. When announcing the federal charges in July, they disclosed a lengthy handwritten note they claim Boelter sent to FBI Director Kash Patel admitting to the attacks. The letter, however, did not clearly explain his reasons for targeting the Hortmans or Hoffmans.
In communications with news outlets, Boelter mentioned a vague and mysterious “investigation” he claimed to be conducting, sometimes suggesting it related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Acquaintances characterized Boelter as an evangelical Christian who occasionally served as a preacher and missionary, held politically conservative beliefs, and had been experiencing employment difficulties.
John Hoffman stated in a lawsuit filed against Boelter in April that his left arm and hand would likely never fully heal, and that he also sustained permanent damage to his digestive and urinary systems.
Yvette Hoffman was left with lasting physical impairment, according to the lawsuit, while their adult daughter, Hope Hoffman, who witnessed the attack and contacted 911 but was not shot, experienced severe psychological trauma.
