Rep. Hilary Scholten Postpones Town Hall After Shootings

Rep. Hilary Scholten, a Democrat from Michigan, has decided to delay her town hall event on Monday in light of recent shootings targeting Democrats in Minnesota.

In a post on Social Platform X, Scholten mentioned, “I only want to contact you directly at West Michigan, City Hall and other events.”

She added, “However, after this weekend’s event, Team Scholten has decided to postpone the event in Muskegon tonight for the safety of all involved.”

The town hall was set for 5:30 PM at City Hall. Scholten expressed her eagerness for the rescheduled date and urged everyone to “Keep Western Michigan safe and yourself safe.”

This decision came after it was discovered that her name appeared in documents associated with the suspect of the fatal shootings in Minnesota, according to her statement.

Scholten emphasized that the decision to cancel the Michigan city hall meeting was made to avoid diverting police resources from public safety in light of the “wealth of attention.” She explained it was a precautionary measure.

A list containing dozens of names, retrieved from vehicles left at the crime scene, reportedly included those of notable state and federal officials, community leaders, and information about abortion rights advocates and healthcare facilities, as reported by authorities to The Associated Press.

In relation to the shootings, which left two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses dead, former state leader Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed at their home in Brooklyn Park. Meanwhile, state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot multiple times at their home in Champlin, just eight miles away.

Vance Boerter, identified as a suspect in the shootings, was apprehended Sunday night after what authorities described as possibly the largest manhunt in Minnesota’s history. He was found in a field near his home after his abandoned vehicle was located, along with a cowboy hat. Prosecutors announced that he faces multiple federal charges, including stalking, murder, and shooting, during a press briefing on Monday.

In response to increased concerns about safety, some officials are enhancing their security measures. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a friend of Hortman’s who had dinner with her the previous Friday, noted she was unsure if her name was on the target list but mentioned that her security had been elevated without her request.

Update: 3:48 PM