The man accused of a deadly attack on Minnesota lawmakers is expected to change his plea and admit guilt in his federal case. Vance Boelter, who had previously pleaded not guilty, is now expected to plead guilty to the federal charges against him. The move would represent a major shift in one of the most serious political violence cases the state has faced in recent years.
Boelter is facing a substantial set of accusations at the federal level. He has been charged with six federal counts, including murder, stalking and weapons violations. Together, those charges reflect the gravity of the attack and the range of conduct that prosecutors say he engaged in during the assault on public officials.
The charges stem from a series of shootings that took place in 2025. The attack targeted Minnesota lawmakers and their families, turning what should have been ordinary lives in public service into the center of a criminal investigation. The case has been closely watched given the seniority of those who were attacked.
Among the victims were two people who lost their lives. Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in the attack. Hortman was one of the most prominent figures in Minnesota politics, and her death, alongside that of her husband, gave the case a particularly heavy weight.
Others caught up in the violence survived but were wounded. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also injured in the shootings. Their survival did not lessen the seriousness of the attack, which struck at multiple members of the state's political community in a coordinated way.
The federal case is not the only legal front Boelter faces. In addition to the federal charges, he also faces state charges in connection with the same events. That means the resolution of the federal case through a guilty plea would not necessarily bring the entire matter to a close, as the state proceedings remain separate.
For now, attention is focused on the expected change of plea, which would move the federal case from a contested not guilty position toward an admission of guilt. Should Boelter follow through, it would mark a significant turn in a case that shook Minnesota, while the broader legal process, including the state charges, continues to play out.