US Minnesota man gets 2 life sentences for political assassinations

The man who pleaded guilty to killing a Minnesota Democratic lawmaker and her husband was sentenced on Thursday in a federal court to spend the rest of his life behind bars, reported Xinhua.

Vance Boelter has been indicted on six federal charges in connection with the stalking and murders of Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, the stalking and shooting of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman, and the attempted shooting of their daughter Hope Hoffman. He was given two consecutive life terms plus 40 years in prison by a federal judge after pleading guilty in June.

Judge John R. Tunheim said it was "the longest sentence I have imposed after hearing thousands of cases over the years, but it is well deserved," CBS Minnesota reported.

Multiple media outlets reported that Boelter pleaded guilty to all six felony counts related to the shootings, avoiding the death penalty in exchange for spending the rest of his life in prison.

According to court documents previously released by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota, Boelter carried out the attacks after extensive research and planning. On June 14, 2025, Boelter disguised himself as a member of law enforcement and traveled to the homes of Democratic elected officials with the intent to intimidate and murder them. Early that morning, the defendant traveled to the Hoffmans' home in Champlin, Minnesota. By posing as a police officer, Boelter compelled the Hoffmans to answer their door. He then repeatedly shot Senator Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman and attempted to shoot their daughter, Hope Hoffman.

Boelter then traveled to the homes of two other Minnesota elected officials, only to find that no one at those locations was home. He next drove to the home of Speaker Emerita and Representative Melissa Hortman. There, Boelter repeatedly shot, and killed, Representative Hortman and her husband. Following a two-day manhunt, law enforcement arrested the defendant near his family residence in Green Isle, Minnesota.