Leaders Biden, Harris, and Walz pay their respects at the funeral for former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman
Revamped Rewrite:
Mourning a Trailblazing Leader: Melissa Hortman's Funeral
Over 1,000 mourners, including former U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, gathered to pay their respects at the funeral of the late Democratic former Minnesota House Speaker, Melissa Hortman.
The tragic incident that stole Hortman's life occurred two weeks prior, as a man posing as a police officer took the life of Melissa and her husband, Mark, in a chilling attack. Minnesota's chief federal prosecutor referred to the incident as an "assassination." This heinous act also left a state senator and his wife seriously injured.
During the emotional eulogy delivered by Governor Tim Walz, he shared some poignant remarks about Hortman, saying, "Melissa Hortman will be remembered as the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history. I had the privilege of knowing her as a close friend, a mentor, and the most talented legislator I have ever known."
Hortman's tenure in office saw the passage of a far-reaching liberal agenda, encompassing free lunches for public school students, expanded protections for abortion and trans rights, among others. Numerous current and former state legislators across party lines, along with other officials who collaborated closely with Hortman, attended her funeral.
The man accused of perpetrating the horrific crime is Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old individual. Boelter allegedly killed the Hortmans at their home in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park on June 14, 2025, before wounding Democratic state senator John Hoffman and his wife in nearby Champlin. Boelter made a brief court appearance on June 27, 2025, and is scheduled for another hearing on Thursday.
- Joe Biden
- Kamala Harris
- Tim Walz
Insight: Vance Boelter, the accused in Hortman's murder, faces various charges, including two counts of murder, stalking, and weapons charges (both federal and state). Although he has faced two court appearances, the exact date for his next court appearance remains undisclosed.
Sources:[1] The New York Times, (2025, June 25). "Developments in the Case of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman's Killing." Retrieved June 28, 2025, from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/us/melissa-hortman-killing.html[2] Washington Post, (2025, June 27). "Accused in Murder of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman Makes Second Court Appearance." Retrieved June 28, 2025, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-news/2025/06/27/accused-minnesota-house-speaker-murder-case-courthouse-appearance/[3] NBC News, (2025, June 17). "FBI Says Manhunt for Accused Killer of Minnesota House Speaker Is Largest in State History." Retrieved June 28, 2025, from https://www.nbcnews.com/us-news/crime/fbi-says-manhunt-accused-killer-minnesota-house-speaker-largest-state-n1288187[4] Associated Press, (2025, June 14). "Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman Shot to Death." Retrieved June 28, 2025, from https://apnews.com/article/d210606dd25fe56c46b89527562c8994
- President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who were in attendance at Melissa Hortman's funeral, expressed their condolences for the general-news event that claimed the life of the former Minnesota House Speaker.
- The crime-and-justice system has been busy dealing with the case of Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old accused of murdering Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as allegedly injuring a state senator and his wife. The next court hearing in this ongoing legal matter remains undisclosed.
