The Minnesota man accused in the June killing of the state's top lawmaker and her husband pleaded not guilty to federal charges Thursday.
Vance Boelter, 58, was indicted on federal murder charges last month in the killing of Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, in their Brooklyn Park home on June 14. He faces six counts in total, including firearms offenses and stalking.
According to The Associated Press, one of Boelter's attorneys entered a not guilty plea on his behalf during the Thursday arraignment. Boelter, who was wearing an orange sweater and yellow pants, confirmed he understood the charges and thanked the judge, the outlet reported.
If convicted, Boelter could face the death penalty, although that is yet to be decided.
During the arraignment hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster also issued a revised schedule on the case but did not set a trial date, AP reported. Prosecutors have said the complex case involves a huge amount of evidence, including video, responses to grand jury subpoenas and information from digital devices.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in the immediate aftermath of the attack that it appeared to be a "politically motivated assassination."
Boelter also faces state charges in that attack and in the shooting and wounding of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman.
He was arrested after what became the largest manhunt in Minnesota history. Police said he was wearing body armor and a tactical vest typically worn by law enforcement officers, as well as what police called a "hyper-realistic" silicone mask, during the attack.
Joseph Thompson, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota, alleged Boelter had been carefully planning the attacks "for quite some time." Thompson said Boelter had allegedly bought materials to make a fake "police" license plate for his SUV.
In an online video, Boelter described himself as a married father of five, from Green Isle, Minnesota.
Prosecutors last month released a handwritten letter to FBI Director Kash Patel from Boelter that claimed the state’s governor wanted him to kill two U.S. senators.
Thompson called the letter part of an apparent effort by Boelter to excuse his crimes and said there was no evidence Boelter had targeted that state's two U.S. senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, both Democrats.
