Federal prosecutors told a judge on Wednesday that they had reached a plea deal with Vance Boelter, the man accused of assassinating a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband last year in a politically motivated attack.
The Justice Department’s letter to the judge described “a proposed plea agreement” and asked for a hearing in which Mr. Boelter could change his not guilty plea. The letter also said that prosecutors would not seek the death penalty. The public version of the court filing did not specify the terms of the agreement.
Mr. Boelter was accused in federal and state court of fatally shooting State Representative Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband, Mark. He was also accused of shooting and wounding State Senator John A. Hoffman, a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette.
Lawyers for Mr. Boelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Justice Department also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Judge John R. Tunheim set the change of plea hearing for Thursday morning.
Justice Department officials said this week that prosecutors decided not to recommend the death penalty after determining that underlying stalking charges against Mr. Boelter likely did not make him eligible for capital punishment.
Federal prosecutors can seek the death penalty when a violent crime leads to a murder involving a firearm. There is doubt about whether stalking qualifies as a violent crime under court precedent.
“Prosecutors worked hard on this case to make sure he was held accountable to the fullest extent possible,” Emily Covington, a Justice Department spokeswoman, said in a statement on Monday.
Minnesota has no death penalty for state crimes, but federal prosecutors initially left open the possibility of capital punishment. A spokesman for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the state charges against Mr. Boelter, said the plea agreement in federal court would not affect the state case.
Mr. Boelter is accused of going to the homes of Minnesota legislators on a night last June and carrying out the attacks while disguised as a police officer. The shootings led to a lengthy manhunt and renewed concerns about increased political violence in the United States.
Documents found in Mr. Boelter’s black S.U.V., which was disguised to look like a police vehicle, included the names of dozens of political figures, prosecutors said.
Ms. Hortman, a former speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, was a lawyer by training and a legislator for about 20 years. She played a key role in passing a wide array of bills during the 2023 session, when Democrats held a slim majority. The measures expanded abortion rights, legalized recreational marijuana and required employers to offer paid family and medical leave.
Mr. Hortman, who worked for an electrical manufacturing company, was recalled by friends as an enthusiastic and supportive political spouse with a good sense of humor and an interest in sports.
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