(NewsNation) — Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, spoke for the first time with NewsNation’s Joe Khalil after the FBI alerted him he was one of the people on alleged Minnesota shooter Vance Boelter’s target list.
“Throughout the course of the day, we started getting more and more nervous,” said Landsman. Landsman was notified of the list Sunday morning while Boelter was still on the run. “Obviously, we now know he never left Minnesota, but at the time, we didn’t know that. So it was unsettling.”
Boelter, 57, allegedly shot two Democratic state legislators and their spouses at their homes while disguised as a police officer, killing Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband and seriously wounding Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.
Authorities say Boelter had a manifesto with several names on it and “No Kings” fliers. After his arrest on Sunday, federal prosecutors said Boelter had planned on shooting other lawmakers along with Hortman and Hoffman.
All the politicians named in Boelter’s writings were Democrats, including more than 45 state and federal officials in Minnesota.
“You wonder why your name is on the list,” Landsman added. “Worse, what happens if this guy shows up? He’s had plenty of time to drive from where he is in Minnesota to where we are. It’s a 10-hour drive. The whole thing is awful. It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever seen.”
Landsman, who has faced threats in the past, pleaded with his fellow Democrats and Republicans to work together to stop all forms of political violence. He also acknowledged that President Trump needs to step up and provide the leadership so these kinds of incidents stop, as threats against Congress have increased over the years.
The Capitol Police have reported 10,000 threats against lawmakers so far in 2025.
“It doesn’t feel normal,” said Landsman. “I think people are legitimately worried. They’re taking it hopefully seriously. Obviously, they need to take it more seriously.”
Boelter is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder.