Assassinated Minnesota politician lies in state as suspect appears in court

The slain former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman lay in state on Friday at the state Capitol building in St. Paul alongside her husband, Mark, and their golden retriever, Gilbert. Less than two dozen Minnesotans have lain in the state Capitol, with Melissa making history as the first woman afforded the honor. A gunman is accused of fatally shooting the couple in their home earlier this month and wounding another lawmaker and his wife the same night.

Hundreds of people paid respects to the trio on Friday, including Gov. Tim Walz, according to a KSTP reporter. The viewing line is long, with a mood of somber reflection and quiet conversation, Democratic state Sen. Heather Gustafson said. Federal legislators passed a measure condemning political violence on Thursday in memory of the Hortmans, according to U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. The pair will continue to lie in state before a private funeral on Saturday, according to Melissa’s obituary.

What’s happening with the suspected shooter? Suspected assassin Vance Boelter made his second court appearance Friday, facing two federal murder charges with additional stalking and weapons charges. The scheduled hearing was cut short when Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko granted Boelter’s request to move the hearing to next week. Boelter’s attorneys alleged their client suffered from sleep deprivation due to poor treatment at the local county jail, according to reporting by local news outlet KARE11.

Boelter’s bed was a mat on the floor without a pillow, with the lights in his cell never shutting off, defense attorney Manny Atwal alleged. The facility's doors are constantly slamming, and an inmate neighboring Boelter smeared feces across the walls of a nearby cell, she added. Atwal described having difficulty communicating with Boelter because of his lack of rest. The 57-year-old suspect wore a green uniform to court, signifying he’s been on suicide watch. He denied ever being suicidal while addressing the court, adding that he hadn’t truly slept in about two weeks. Boelter is now expected to appear in court Thursday afternoon.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report dissecting where Boelter falls politically and his journey toward radicalization.