State trial date set for Vance Boelter as he pleads not guilty after federal sentence

Boelter told the court he was "no assassin," instead describing himself as a patriot as he promoted conspiracy theories to the court.MINNEAPOLIS (CN) — In a packed downtown courtroom Wednesday, Vance Boelter pleaded not guilty to state charges stemming from the killings of Minnesota lawmakers last summer.This marked Boelter’s second state court appearance since he was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years in federal court in July for the killings of Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.Invoking his right to a speedy trial, Boelter’s state trial date was set for Nov. 2. In federal court, Boelter previously pleaded guilty to the killings as part of a plea deal that spared him from a trial and the death penalty.Victims and family members who voiced opposition to the plea deal during victim impact statements at Boelter’s July sentencing will now receive the trial they demanded in state court. However, Minnesota has no state death penalty.Boelter, 59, of Green Isle, Minnesota, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the Hortman killings, three counts of attempted first-degree murder for shooting John and Yvette Hoffman and for attempting to shoot their daughter, Hope, and one count of attempted first-degree murder against Representative Kristin Bahner, who was not home when Boelter banged on her door.He also faces animal cruelty charges for shooting the Hortmans’ dog, Gilbert, and for impersonating an officer.Given his federal sentencing, Boelter requested at the hearing that his $5 million bail be reduced to $0 — though Hennepin County District Judge Juan Hoyos refused to modify bail after Boelter’s counsel presented reasoning the judge found had no connection to bail.After Hoyos declined to let Boelter speak, his attorney, Bryan Leary, presented his argument, which included references to conspiracy theories about fraud investigations into state officials and a collective effort to silence Boelter from speaking to law enforcement and Chinese spies across the state.Boelter also told the court he was “no assassin.”“I’m a patriot,” he said, speaking through his attorneys. “Always have been, always will be.”After a pause from Hoyos, who said he was “at a loss,” state attorney Krista White dismissed Boelter’s argument.“There is nothing that was just read into the record that was relevant to bail; it was all conspiracy theories and rambling,” she said. “The federal government is aware he is in our custody and is comfortable with that.”Hoyos also addressed the state’s proposed protective order, a proposal the state claims it made after discovering ongoing online posts authored by Boelter containing details of his case.“Any murder case has sensitive material involved in it,” state attorney Paige Starkey said. “The high-profile of this case combined with the sensitive material I think lends itself to a protective order.”In court documents and at the hearing, Boelter expressed opposition to a protective order, arguing he should receive paper copies of discovery materials to do with as he chooses.Hoyos declined to rule on the motion Wednesday but said he would schedule a full hearing to address the protective order.Hoyos also did not address Boelter’s plans to raise certain defenses, including justifiable taking of life, reasonable use of force, double jeopardy and same behavioral incident. However, the state noted it filed a motion to deny all raised defenses.Boelter’s charges stem from an overnight attack on June 14, 2025, when he attacked the Hoffmans at their home before driving to Bahner’s residence and ultimately arriving at the Hortmans’ Brooklyn Park home, where he fatally shot the former House speaker and her husband.Categories / Courts, CriminalSubscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads