Fact Check: U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten Named in Target List Linked to Vance Boelter
What We Know
U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten, along with other members of Michigan's congressional delegation, has been reported to be included in a list linked to Vance Boelter, the suspect charged with the murder of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. The incident occurred on June 14, 2025, when Boelter allegedly shot and killed Hortman and her husband, Mark, while also wounding another state senator and his wife in a politically motivated attack (Wikipedia). Following the incident, it was revealed that Boelter had a collection of handwritten notes, which reportedly included the names of several Michigan Democrats, including Scholten, Rashida Tlaib, and Debbie Dingell (Detroit News, MLive).
Scholten's office confirmed that she was made aware of her name appearing in Boelter's documents by the Michigan State Police. In response, she increased her security and canceled a scheduled town hall meeting, citing safety concerns (Axios, Newsweek). The nature of the list—whether it was a target list or merely a mention of names—remains unclear (Detroit News).
Analysis
The claim that U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten was named in a target list associated with Vance Boelter is partially true. Scholten's name was indeed found in documents linked to Boelter, but the context of that inclusion is ambiguous. Reports indicate that while her name was among those listed, it is not definitively categorized as a "hit list" (Detroit News, MLive).
The sources reporting on this matter vary in reliability. For instance, the Wikipedia entry provides a comprehensive overview of the events surrounding the shootings and the suspect's background, which lends credibility to the context of the claims. However, the interpretation of the list's intent—whether it serves as a direct threat or merely a collection of names—has not been conclusively established. Scholten's actions, including increasing her security and canceling public events, reflect the seriousness of the situation, but they also highlight the uncertainty surrounding the nature of the list (Axios, Newsweek).
The Michigan State Police's involvement in notifying Scholten adds a layer of credibility to her concerns, indicating that law enforcement took the matter seriously. However, the lack of clarity regarding the list's purpose means that while Scholten's name was included, the implications of that inclusion are still being assessed.
Conclusion
The verdict on the claim that U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten was named in a target list linked to Vance Boelter is Partially True. While it is confirmed that her name appeared in documents associated with Boelter, the specific context—whether it constitutes a direct threat or not—remains uncertain. The actions taken by Scholten in response to this information suggest a legitimate concern for her safety, but without definitive evidence categorizing the list as a hit list, the claim cannot be fully substantiated.
Sources
- Representative Hillary Scholten
- Hillary J. Scholten | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
- 2025 shootings of Minnesota legislators - Wikipedia
- Several Michigan Democrats included in Minnesota suspect's papers
- Michigan congresswoman on Minnesota shooter's list of targets
- Michigan officials on list found in car of suspected ...
- House Dem named in Minnesota shooting list cancels town hall
- Democrat Postpones Town Hall, Says She Was on Minnesota Suspect's Hit List
