Former NFL and University of Minnesota football player Jack Brewer strongly criticized Gov. Tim Walz following the deadly shootings that left former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband dead, and State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife injured. Brewer, who played for the Vikings and Golden Gophers, lamented the decline of civility and safety in Minnesota under Walz’s leadership, calling the state “the capital of chaos.” He blamed the liberal political climate in Minneapolis and St. Paul for fostering division and violence, accusing both Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison of enabling a dangerous environment. Brewer urged a return to traditional values, including strong leadership and family-focused principles, particularly in light of the tragedy occurring near Father’s Day.
Authorities continue the manhunt for 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, the suspect in the shootings. Boelter, who once served on Minnesota’s Workforce Development Board under both Gov. Mark Dayton and Gov. Walz, allegedly impersonated a police officer and targeted the victims in two separate attacks. Governor Walz, while condemning the violence as a “politically motivated assassination,” did not mention Boelter’s prior appointment. Walz emphasized the importance of peaceful political discourse and pledged full state support to local law enforcement. Brewer, however, dismissed Walz’s response, claiming the state’s leadership is weak and ideologically extreme, warning that dissent within the Democratic Party is increasingly met with hostility. He described the violence as rooted in evil and ideological radicalism, stating, “Whenever you give Satan power, he shows his face.”