Klobuchar Pays Emotional Tribute to Slain Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman
June 16, 2025 – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) delivered a heartfelt tribute to Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman, who was fatally shot alongside her husband, Mark, in their Brooklyn Park home on June 14, 2025, in what authorities call a politically motivated attack. Speaking on ABC News’ This Week, Klobuchar described Hortman as “such a decent person” and a “true leader” who was “loved by Democrats and Republicans.”
Klobuchar, who dined with Hortman hours before the attack, shared memories of their decades-long friendship, recalling door-to-door campaigning during Hortman’s 2004 election. “She knew practically every person in her district,” Klobuchar told POLITICO, praising Hortman’s work as a mother, Sunday school teacher, and advocate for veterans’ service dogs. As House Speaker, Hortman championed abortion rights and free school lunches, earning bipartisan respect.
The attack, linked to suspect Vance Luther Boelter, 57, also left State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, injured. Klobuchar called Boelter “evil” and “smart,” noting his manifesto targeting Minnesota Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz and Senator Tina Smith, over reproductive rights. A $50,000 FBI reward is offered for Boelter’s capture, with Klobuchar urging the public to report sightings without approaching him.
Klobuchar, on NBC’s Meet the Press, linked the violence to rising partisanship and online disinformation, calling for reflection among elected officials. Posts on X echoed her grief, with users like @ThisWeekABC highlighting her call to humanize victims of political violence. The tragedy, condemned by leaders like President Trump and Senator Chuck Schumer, underscores the growing threat of political violence in America.
