Two Texas congressmembers named on alleged Minnesota assassin’s hit list.
“Two Texas congressmembers named on alleged Minnesota assassin’s hit list” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media company that informs and engages Texans on public policy, politics, government, and statewide issues.
U.S. Reps. Veronica Escobar and Joaquin Castro say their names appeared on a list of targets compiled by the assassin accused of killing Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as shooting two others, on Saturday.
Vance Boelter, 57, allegedly had a “hit list” of 45 public officials, all of whom were Democrats.
In a Monday statement, El Paso Mayor Escobar stated that a string of recent politically motivated violence, including genuine threats made against Texas lawmakers, serves as “jarring reminders that right-wing extremism has a foothold in our country.”
“Politically motivated violence, and violence of any kind, have no place in our democracy and we all have a role to play in moving our country toward healing,” she said.
Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, was also mentioned in Boelter’s articles, according to Katherine Schneider, his communications director. The San Antonio Express-News was first to report the news.
Boelter’s writings included “many, many notebooks full of plans, lists of names, surveillance efforts that he took to surveil and locate the home addresses and family members,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said at a Monday press conference.
The list also included prominent Minnesotans such as Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar. Others from outside the state, including Ohio Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman, have reported being identified.
It’s unknown if Boelter targeted or named any other Texas lawmakers.
