Overview
- State Sen. Julia Coleman and Rep. Kristin Robbins publicly urged conservatives to stop spreading unfounded claims tying Rep. Melissa Hortman’s June killing to a Minnesota childcare and Medicaid fraud investigation.
- Sara Foster’s post suggesting a connection drew millions of views, prompting Coleman to say the speculation exploits a tragedy and to clarify that a widely shared video of Hortman’s tears reflected a difficult vote, not fear.
- Authorities continue to describe the attack as politically motivated and individual in nature, saying there is no verified connection to the welfare probe or to Gov. Tim Walz.
- Prosecutors have called the separate fraud case large in scope, with an assistant U.S. attorney labeling it “industrial-scale” and reporting that 82 of 92 defendants charged are Somali Americans.
- Vance Boelter is charged in the killings of Melissa and Mark Hortman and the shootings of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, and he remains in custody facing state and federal charges.