In a shocking twist to a series of violent attacks in Minnesota, Vance Boelter, accused of political assassinations, has implicated Democratic Gov. Tim Walz in an alleged plot to target U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar.
According to the Daily Caller, Boelter, charged with the killing of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as the wounding of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, claimed in a handwritten letter that Walz solicited him for further assassinations, though he refused to act on this request.
The violent spree began in June when Boelter allegedly shot and killed Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband in a targeted attack. Authorities later connected Boelter to a separate incident that same month, where he is accused of seriously wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman. During the attack on the Hoffman family, Boelter reportedly fired at their daughter, Hope Hoffman, though she miraculously escaped unharmed.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson praised the bravery of John and Yvette Hoffman during a press conference on Tuesday. “Both John and Yvette acted with incredible bravery to put themselves between Boelter’s bullets and their daughter,” Thompson said. “Miraculously, Hope Hoffman was not shot,” he added, highlighting the family’s narrow escape.
Following the attacks, authorities launched a nearly two-day manhunt, eventually apprehending Boelter in a remote area of Minnesota. During the search, investigators recovered a handwritten letter from Boelter’s abandoned car, addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel. In this letter, Boelter made startling claims about Gov. Tim Walz, alleging the governor had approached him with a deadly request.
Boelter wrote that Walz solicited him to assassinate Democratic U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar. He claimed in the letter that he refused to carry out this supposed plan and instead intended to expose the governor’s alleged involvement. “I will probably be dead by the time you read this letter. I wanted to share some info with you that you might find interesting,” Boelter wrote, indicating his belief that his actions would lead to a fatal outcome.
“Tim wanted me to kill Amy Klobushar [sic] and Tina [REDACTED],” Boelter continued in the letter, suggesting a motive behind the alleged request. “Tim wants to be a senator and he doesn’t trust [REDACTED] to retire as planned and thinks she is going to stay on at the last minute,” he added. Boelter also expressed concern for his own safety, writing, “Tim is probably crapping bricks right now because I’m still at large and he knows what I can do, and that I know about where all the buried skeletons are.”
In the same letter, Boelter claimed to have been trained by U.S. military personnel “off the books” since his college years. He stated that he had been involved in various operations across Eastern Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Africa. Boelter wrote that he believed his actions were in the best interest of the United States, framing his alleged involvement in a broader context.
Throughout the letter, Boelter insisted that his family was not involved in his actions and pleaded for their safety. “I just want my family safe. They had nothing to do with this and are totally innocent,” he wrote. “This was a one person job,” Boelter emphasized, distancing his loved ones from the crimes he is accused of committing.
Boelter also addressed his interactions with law enforcement during the manhunt, claiming he deliberately avoided violence against them. “You should notice how I didn’t fire one round at any police officers and boy did I have plenty of opportunity,” he wrote. “Because I support the police and don’t want to see them hurt. But if they are hurting my wife + kids next time I won’t give them a pass,” Boelter added, issuing a warning.
During the investigation, authorities recovered the firearms believed to have been used in both attacks, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson on Tuesday. The recovery of this evidence marks a significant step in building the case against Boelter for the violent acts in June. Thompson did not elaborate on additional details regarding the weapons or their origins during the press conference.
The Minnesota Star Tribune published a complete transcript of Boelter’s letter, making the full scope of his allegations accessible to the public. This publication has sparked widespread interest and debate over the claims made against Gov. Walz and the nature of Boelter’s actions. The letter’s contents have raised questions about the credibility of Boelter’s statements and the potential implications for Minnesota’s political landscape.
The FBI has not yet stated Boelter’s letter or the accusations against Gov. Walz. A request for comment from the Daily Caller to the FBI went unanswered at the time of this report. The lack of an immediate response from federal authorities leaves many questions unresolved about the validity of Boelter’s claims.
As the investigation into Boelter’s actions and allegations unfolds, Minnesota residents and officials alike grapple with the fallout of these violent events. The targeting of political figures has heightened concerns over safety and the potential for politically motivated violence in the state. Authorities have assured the public that they are taking all claims seriously and will continue to pursue justice in this complex case.