A Justice Department prosecutor has told a federal court that he submitted a recommendation on whether to seek the death penalty against Vance Boelter, the man accused of assassinating former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband.
The prosecutor notified the court on Friday, April 24, that the recommendation had been sent to a supervisor and that officials are still awaiting a response, according to court records reported by Meidas Touch Network correspondent Scott MacFarlane.
Boelter, 58, faces federal charges in the June 2025 shootings that killed Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
Prosecutors have described the attacks as a targeted political assault. Boelter allegedly dressed as a police officer while carrying them out.
Boelter is charged with six counts
Federal prosecutors charged Boelter in June 2025 with six counts, including murder with a firearm and stalking.
At least two of those charges carry the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted. A federal grand jury later issued a formal indictment on the same charges.
Boelter pleaded not guilty to the federal counts. He also faces state charges in Hennepin County, including first-degree premeditated murder.
The shootings occurred on June 14, 2025, at the victims’ homes in Minnesota. According to authorities, Boelter stalked the lawmakers before the attacks. He was caught after a two-day manhunt in the woods.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson announced the initial charges and noted the case involved “horrific, targeted murders.” Court records show Boelter wrote a letter to the FBI after his arrest in which he described the attacks.
No trial date has been set in federal court. Defense lawyers said they are reviewing thousands of pages of evidence turned over by prosecutors.
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In a November 12, 2025, status hearing in federal court, federal defender Manny Atwal (one of Boelter’s defense lawyers) told the judge that prosecutors had turned over more than 130,000 pages of PDF documents, along with over 800 hours of audio and video recordings, and more than 2,000 photographs
The decision on the death penalty now rests with a supervisor in the Justice Department. Under federal rules, the attorney general must approve any decision to seek capital punishment in a case like this.
If the department decides to pursue the death penalty, it would mark a rare step in a political violence case. Federal executions are not common, and the process requires multiple layers of review.
Hortman served as speaker of the Minnesota House and was a prominent Democrat. Her death and the attack on Hoffman drew widespread attention and statements of shock from leaders in both parties.
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Boelter remains in federal custody. He has been held without bond since shortly after his arrest.
The case has moved slowly through the courts as both sides prepare for trial. In February 2026, one of the prosecutors handling the case left the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota amid a wave of departures, but the case has continued.
Friday’s court notice marks the latest step in deciding whether Boelter could face execution if found guilty. The recommendation itself remains under review, and no final decision has been made public.
Victims’ families have not commented publicly on the latest development. Hoffman and his wife survived the shooting but were seriously injured. Hoffman later described being hit multiple times.
The case has shown concerns about political violence in the United States. Lawmakers from both sides condemned the attacks at the time.
Boelter’s next court appearance has not been scheduled. The federal case is being heard in the U.S. District Court in Minnesota.
