State trial date set for Vance Boelter as he pleads not guilty after federal sentence

Vance Boelter pleaded not guilty Wednesday to Minnesota state charges over the killings of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, months after receiving two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years in federal court under a plea deal. His state trial, invoked under his speedy-trial right, is set for Nov. 2; Minnesota has no death penalty, which is part of why victims' families pushed for this second prosecution.

Boelter also faces attempted first-degree murder counts for shooting John and Yvette Hoffman, attempting to shoot their daughter Hope, and threatening Rep. Kristin Bahner, plus animal cruelty and impersonating an officer charges. His attorney raised conspiracy theories about fraud investigations and Chinese spies while asking the judge to zero out his $5 million bail; the judge refused, and the prosecution dismissed the argument as irrelevant rambling.

The court also weighed a proposed protective order after prosecutors said Boelter has been posting case details online, though the judge deferred ruling and set a further hearing. Boelter has signaled he intends to raise defenses including justifiable use of force and double jeopardy, which the state has already moved to strike.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.