In Minnesota, federal and state officials have announced murder and stalking charges against Vance Boelter, the man accused of assassinating Democratic state House leader Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home, as well as shooting state Senator John Hoffman and his wife. Joseph Thompson is acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota.

Joseph Thompson: “Political assassinations are rare. They strike at the very core of our democracy. But the details of Boelter’s crime are even worse. They are truly chilling. It is no exaggeration to say that his crimes are the stuff of nightmares. Boelter stalked his victims like prey. He went to their homes, held himself out as a police officer and shot them in cold blood.”

Authorities say Boelter visited the homes of two other lawmakers on the night of the killings. They also discovered a hit list that included Planned Parenthood centers and the names of many Democratic politicians, including Minnesota Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and state Attorney General Keith Ellison, who will join us later on the program. On Monday, Senator Smith confronted Republican Senator Mike Lee after he blamed the political left for the shooting. In one post, Lee wrote, “This is what happens When Marxists don’t get their way.”