The individual accused of shooting two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses this past weekend is said to have left behind a notebook containing the names of many officials.
Authorities report that 57-year-old Vance Bolter fatally shot former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their residence on Saturday morning, as well as injuring Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
Bolter has been charged with two counts of stalking related to the shootings, along with murder charges for the deaths of the Hortmans, and for the use of a firearm during a violent act.
A newly unsealed affidavit reveals that, after fleeing from the Hortman residence, Bolter abandoned his vehicle, and law enforcement discovered multiple notes listing over 45 lawmakers, both at the state and federal levels. Additionally, five firearms and a quantity of ammunition were recovered. The notebook reportedly also contained references to various online search engines.
“This was a targeted attack against individuals who answered the public’s call for service,” stated Alvin Winston, a special agent from the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office, during a press conference on Monday.
The notebook includes the names of several federal lawmakers, with some confirming that they have been alerted by the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) regarding their inclusion on the list.
Among those listed are Minnesota’s U.S. Senators, Democrats Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar. Local news outlets noted that the list also features names of Minnesota lawmakers and abortion providers.
Minnesota Democrats such as Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison shared that they are also mentioned on the list.
The list apparently extends to several Democratic lawmakers from Michigan as well.
Rep. Hilary Scholten (D-Mich.) chose to postpone a town hall meeting scheduled for Monday night due to “a wealth of attention.” Her team confirmed that the USCP notified her about her name being on the list.
Meanwhile, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) was also on the list but chose to go ahead with her town hall as planned, according to her spokesperson.
Rep. Sri Tanedar (D-Mich.) mentioned that his office had been informed by the USCP that his name was among those found in the possession of the Minnesota shooter.
Rep. Greg Lansman (D-Ohio) reported being notified by Capitol Police on Sunday morning while the suspect was still at large, and he learned that his name appeared on the list. He plans to work with local law enforcement to enhance security for himself and his family.
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) also shared that she was informed of her name being included in the suspect’s documents, and has since increased her security measures. She expressed gratitude to the USCP and local police for their efforts.
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) acknowledged on Monday that she recognized her name was present in documents recovered from the suspect’s vehicle.
Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) were also among those listed, as noted by local sources.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) indicated to a news outlet that he was informed by the USCP that his name was included on the list.
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) confirmed that she too was notified that her name was part of the Minnesota shooter’s target list.
A spokesperson for the USCP opted not to disclose specific names on the list, but emphasized that they are collaborating diligently with federal, state, and local partners due to concerns regarding threats to lawmakers in Minnesota, ensuring that appropriate security measures are in place for those affected.
“We continue to coordinate closely with the House and Senate Sergeants to enhance the security of Congress members. Their partnership is crucial in maintaining safety, alongside the support from various law enforcement agencies,” the spokesperson stated. “Specifics about these incidents are withheld for safety reasons, but we aim to enhance intelligence sharing and maintain cooperative relations with our partners.”
