Fact Check: The suspect had an apparent hit list with dozens of names, including prominent Democrats and figures with ties to Planned Parenthood or the abortion rights movement.

Fact Check: "The suspect had an apparent hit list with dozens of names, including prominent Democrats and figures with ties to Planned Parenthood or the abortion rights movement."

What We Know

The suspect in the recent assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker, Vance Boelter, was found to have extensive written materials that included a list of potential targets. Law enforcement officials reported that Boelter possessed notebooks containing hundreds of pages of notes, which detailed plans, lists of names, and surveillance efforts. Notably, these lists included numerous politicians, civic leaders, and advocates for abortion rights, including individuals associated with Planned Parenthood (New York Times, Detroit News).

Joseph H. Thompson, the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota, confirmed that the targeted individuals were predominantly Democrats, including U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, as well as several Democratic congresswomen from Minnesota (New York Times). The lists also extended beyond Minnesota, encompassing politicians from neighboring states such as Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa (Detroit News).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim that Boelter had a hit list is robust, as it is corroborated by multiple credible sources, including law enforcement statements and news reports from reputable outlets. The notebooks recovered from Boelter's vehicle contained names of over 45 public officials, primarily Democrats, and individuals linked to abortion rights (Detroit News, New York Times).

However, some sources, such as the FBI, have indicated that while the lists contained numerous names, they may not constitute a formal "hit list" as they lacked specific threats or actionable plans against the individuals listed (Detroit News). This distinction is crucial as it suggests a level of ambiguity regarding Boelter's intentions.

The reliability of the sources reporting on this incident is high, as they include statements from law enforcement and reputable news organizations. The New York Times and CNN have a long-standing reputation for investigative journalism, and their reports are backed by official statements from authorities involved in the case.

Conclusion

The claim that "the suspect had an apparent hit list with dozens of names, including prominent Democrats and figures with ties to Planned Parenthood or the abortion rights movement" is True. The evidence from law enforcement and multiple credible news reports confirms that Boelter's writings included a significant number of names, primarily targeting Democrats and abortion rights advocates. While there is some debate over whether these lists represent a formal hit list, the presence of these names in his notebooks is indisputable.

Sources

1. Minnesota Shootings Suspect Had a Notebook With Dozens of Potential ...
2. Prominent Michigan Democrats included in Minnesota suspect's papers
3. Live updates: Minnesota suspect Vance Boelter captured ...
4. Abortion providers devastated by political killings, hit list - The Hill
5. ‘Hit list’ found at suspected Minnesota shooter's home
6. More Democrats from outside Minnesota found in shooting hit list - Axios
7. What we know about the Minnesota shooting suspect
8. What we know about the Minnesota shooting suspect - My NBC5