Thousands gathered at the Minnesota Capitol on Friday to pay their respects to former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were killed in a violent attack on June 14. Former President Joe Biden was among the mourners who honored Hortman’s legacy as she lay in state under the Capitol dome.
Melissa Hortman, a well-known Democratic leader, became the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans ever to receive the honor of lying in state at the Capitol. It was also the first time a couple and their pet had been honored this way. Their dog, Gilbert, who was injured in the attack and later euthanized, was represented by an urn beside their caskets.
The Capitol rotunda was open to the public from noon to 5 p.m., where thousands lined up to say goodbye. Law enforcement officers stood on guard as mourners, some tearful, quietly paid their respects. Governor Tim Walz, who had a close political relationship with Hortman, was one of the first to attend. President Biden arrived later, made the sign of the cross, spent a moment in silence, and briefly knelt before leaving quietly.
A private funeral will be held Saturday morning and livestreamed by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Vice President Kamala Harris is also expected to attend, although neither she nor Biden is scheduled to speak.
Lisa Greene, a local resident from Brooklyn Park where Hortman lived, was emotional as she remembered the former speaker. “She was an amazing woman and a strong leader,” Greene said. “She made people feel heard and could bring others together. But she also got things done—she was a boss.”
Suspect Appears in Court
Meanwhile, Vance Boelter, 57, the man charged with killing the Hortmans and wounding another Democratic lawmaker and his wife, made a brief court appearance Friday. Federal officials are calling the attack a targeted political assassination.
Boelter, who surrendered on June 15 after a massive manhunt, appeared in court wearing a green padded suicide prevention suit and orange slippers. His lawyer told the judge that Boelter had been sleep-deprived due to harsh conditions in jail, including bright lights 24/7 and a cell neighbor who smeared feces on the walls. Although he is on suicide watch, Boelter told the judge he was not suicidal and never had been.
The judge agreed to move Boelter to a more private area of the jail with a regular uniform so he could rest and communicate better with his legal team. No plea was entered during the hearing, and prosecutors are still working on getting a grand jury indictment before the next court date.
Federal authorities said they plan to prosecute Boelter before any state charges are handled. He could face the federal death penalty, although Minnesota abolished capital punishment over 100 years ago, and no federal death penalty case has ever been prosecuted in the state in modern times.
More Victims and Targets
Authorities say Boelter first attacked state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their home, wounding both. He then went to the Hortmans’ house, where he killed the couple and injured their dog. Prosecutors also revealed that Boelter approached the homes of two more Democratic lawmakers and had a list of dozens of other Democratic officials, including people in other states.
While Boelter’s exact motive remains unclear, prosecutors confirmed that the attack appeared politically driven. Friends have described him as a conservative evangelical Christian, but officials have not shared further details on what led to the violence.
The investigation is ongoing as the community mourns the loss of two beloved public figures.
