Personal Data Purchased Online Allegedly Used to Plan Fatal Attack on State Representative . Vance Boelter, the man charged in the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and the shooting of her husband, allegedly relied on online data brokers to obtain the home addresses of his victims and other potential targets, according to newly obtained court documents reported by Politico.
Investigators found a notebook in Boelter’s vehicle listing 11 registered data brokers, alongside a chilling note: “Most property records in America are public.” Authorities also discovered a list of other state and federal lawmakers and their addresses in Boelter’s truck, suggesting he may have planned a broader campaign of politically motivated violence.
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Prosecutors: “He Stalked His Victims Like Prey”
At a press conference, Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said Boelter had meticulously researched his victims and their families. “Boelter stalked his victims like prey,” Thompson stated. “He used the internet and other tools to find their addresses, the names of their family members, and conducted surveillance before carrying out his attack.”
Boelter now faces six felony charges, including multiple counts of second-degree murder, according to Wired.
Lawmakers Call for Data Broker Regulation in Wake of Tragedy
In the wake of the murders, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) renewed calls for tighter regulation of the data broker industry. These companies compile and sell personal information—including names, home addresses, phone numbers, and relatives’ details—with little to no oversight.
“I have long advocated for data privacy for everyone, including lawmakers,” Klobuchar told Politico. “Maybe these horrific murders will change the sentiment within Congress.”
Klobuchar had previously introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have allowed federal officials to remove their personal data from such databases. That measure, however, failed to pass—and it did not include protections for state lawmakers like Rep. Hortman or other individuals reportedly on Boelter’s target list, such as abortion providers.
A History of Violence Fueled by Publicly Available Data
This isn’t the first time data broker services have been linked to deadly attacks. In 2020, a gunman used similar services to locate and attack the family of District Judge Esther Salas, killing her son. The attacker was reportedly targeting other federal judges, including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. That tragedy spurred Congress to ban data brokers from selling the personal information of federal judges.
Yet, similar protections do not currently exist for lawmakers, abortion providers, journalists, or everyday citizens—despite the growing risk.
“Every American’s Safety Is at Risk”
Senator Wyden, who has been a consistent critic of the data broker industry, is now reportedly working on legislation aimed at limiting the sale of sensitive personal data.
“Congress doesn’t need any more proof that people are being killed based on data for sale to anyone with a credit card,” Wyden said in a statement to Politico. “Every single American’s safety is at risk until Congress cracks down on this sleazy industry.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vance Boelter?
Vance Boelter is the man accused of murdering Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and attempting to kill her husband. Authorities allege that Boelter used data broker services to locate their home addresses and plan the attack.
What are data brokers?
Data brokers are companies that collect, aggregate, and sell personal information—such as home addresses, phone numbers, emails, and even family connections—often without the knowledge or consent of the individuals affected.
How did Boelter allegedly use data brokers?
Court documents reveal that Boelter kept a list of at least 11 registered data brokers and noted that “most property records in America are public.” Investigators believe he used these services to find personal information about his targets, including lawmakers and abortion providers.
Is this a common way attackers find targets?
Unfortunately, yes. There have been several documented cases—such as the 2020 attack on federal Judge Esther Salas’s family—where attackers obtained personal information through data brokers or public records to carry out violence or harassment.
What is the government doing about it?
In response to this and previous attacks, some lawmakers are pushing for stronger regulations. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Ron Wyden are advocating for federal legislation to restrict data brokers and give individuals more control over their personal data.
Didn’t Congress already pass laws protecting officials?
Congress passed a law protecting federal judges’ personal information after the 2020 Salas family shooting. However, those protections do not currently extend to lawmakers, state officials, journalists, healthcare workers, or private citizens.
Conclusion
The tragic assassination of Representative Melissa Hortman and the attack on her husband highlight the alarming consequences of unregulated access to personal data in the digital age. The alleged use of data brokers to facilitate targeted violence is not an isolated incident—it is part of a growing pattern where easily obtainable information becomes a tool for stalking, intimidation, and, in the most extreme cases, murder.
While federal protections exist for a limited group of public officials, most Americans—including state lawmakers, healthcare workers, journalists, and private citizens—remain vulnerable.
