The suspect charged in connection to the shootings of two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses this weekend is said to have left behind notebooks filled with dozens of lawmakers’ names — in what observers are now referring to as a “hit list.”
Authorities say that Vance Boelter, 57, shot and killed former Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, at their home early Saturday and injured state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, in a shooting at their home about 8 miles away earlier the same morning.
Boelter faces a stalking charge for each lawmaker he shot, murder charges for the killings of Hortman and her husband and two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to a newly unsealed affidavit, Boelter left behind his SUV when fleeing the Hortmans’ home, and police discovered several notebooks with names of more than 45 Minnesota state and federal public officials. Police also found five firearms and a “large quantity” of ammunition. The notebooks also contained lists of internet-based search engines to query people’s addresses, according to the affidavit.
“This was a targeted attack against individuals who answered the call to public service,” Alvin Winston, special agent in charge at the FBI’s Minneapolis field office, said at Monday’s press conference.
The lists included the names of numerous federal lawmakers, several of whom have publicly stated that the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) informed them that their names were on the list.
Names of both U.S. senators from Minnesota — Democrats Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar — were included on the list, according to local news outlets, which reported that other names of Minnesota lawmakers, as well as abortion providers, were included on the list.
Minnesota Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison said they were included on the list, Axios reported.
The list reportedly named several Michigan Democrats, as well.
Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.) postponed a town hall scheduled for Monday night out of an “abundance of caution.” Her spokesperson confirmed to The Hill that USCP informed the office that the congresswoman’s name was on the list.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) was on the list but declined to cancel her town hall Monday night, her spokesperson confirmed to The Hill.
Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) said on X that USCP informed his office that his name was listed “in documents found in the possession of the alleged Minnesota shooter.”
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) said he was informed by Capitol Police on Sunday morning — at which point the suspect was still at large — that his name appeared on the suspect’s list. Landsman said he worked with the Cincinnati Police Department to arrange additional security for himself and his family.
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) also said she was notified that “my name was included in the suspect’s materials,” and her “security measures were increased.” She thanked the USCP and the Columbus Police Department for their response.
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) said on Monday that she is “aware” that her name was “on one of the many documents recovered from the vehicle of the suspect in Minnesota.”
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) were also included on the list, according to local reports.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) told the San Antonio Express-News that USCP told his chief of staff that Castro’s name was included on that list.
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) also said USCP informed her that hers was a name included on “the Minnesota shooter’s list of targets.”
A spokesperson for USCP declined to say which lawmakers were named on the list but said, “Since we were notified of the violence targeting lawmakers in Minnesota, we have been working around the clock with our Congressional, federal, state and local partners to ensure that the Members of Congress impacted by this terrible event have a strong security plan.”
“We continue to closely coordinate with the House and Senate Sergeant at Arms to enhance security for Members of Congress. Their partnerships, along with assistance from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across the country, are extremely important to keep everyone safe,” the spokesperson continued.
“For safety and security reasons, we will not discuss those details, but we will continue to focus on continuing intelligence sharing with our partners and providing proactive enhancements,” the spokesperson added.