MINNEAPOLIS — A federal grand jury indicted Vance Boelter for the assassination of state legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband and the wounding of state Senator John Hoffman and his wife. The indictment allows U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson to proceed with prosecution on six counts of stalking, firearm violations and murder. To be clear: A grand jury indictment is not a finding of guilt but a finding of sufficient evidence for a trial. If Boelter pleads not guilty, a separate federal jury would be impaneled to consider the charges. If convicted, Boelter could face execution under federal law. But there remains an unsettled jurisdiction question. Separately the State of Minnesota has charged Boelter for the crimes. His maximum sentence under Minnesota law would be life imprisonment. Not since 1911 has Minnesota had a death penalty.
Earlier: $5 million bail in Minnesota assassinations