The recent political assassinations in Minnesota have sent shockwaves through both the state and national political landscape, with questions swirling about the motive, planning, and ideological leanings of the alleged killer, Troy Vance Bolger. On Chicago’s Morning Answer, Townhall contributor Dustin Grage joined Amy Jacobson and Jim Iuorio to separate fact from speculation.
Grage confirmed that Bolger had indeed written a letter to the FBI, claiming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had instructed him to assassinate Senator Amy Klobuchar to clear a path for a Senate run. However, Grage was quick to note that the letter appeared to be the delusion of a deeply disturbed man. While the letter is real, Grage said it likely holds no factual merit, describing the case as one involving “a deranged, mentally ill man” rather than any credible political conspiracy.
While political partisans on both sides of the aisle speculated about Bolger’s motives—some hoping to label him a product of the other side’s ideology—Grage emphasized the need for a nonpartisan view of the violence. He acknowledged Bolger’s prior involvement on state workforce boards under both Democratic governors Mark Dayton and Tim Walz but clarified those boards were nonpartisan and included appointees of various political affiliations. In Grage’s view, Bolger leaned right, particularly given the list of pro-choice Democratic lawmakers he targeted. Still, he said, “monsters are monsters”—regardless of ideology.
Grage offered key insights into Bolger’s past, noting that he worked as a mortician and was later employed at the University of Minnesota extracting corneas from deceased individuals. He was reportedly fired from that job just one day before the attacks, which Grage believes may have triggered the killings, especially when combined with the collapse of his security contracting business overseas. Bolger’s list of 70 political targets appeared to include lawmakers who supported abortion rights legislation dating back several years, suggesting that he used outdated rosters and whip lists—possibly sourced through AI tools—to compile his plan.
One eerie development was the detainment of Bolger’s estranged wife, Jenny, who was found 90 minutes from the scene of the first shootings with their children, $10,000 in cash, passports, and ammunition. However, she cooperated with law enforcement and was ultimately released. Grage suggested she was likely trying to shield her children from the chaos, not attempting to flee.
The conversation also touched on Minnesota law enforcement’s response. In one case, a police officer dispatched to a wellness check mistook Bolger’s vehicle for another officer’s and failed to engage—potentially missing an opportunity to stop the rampage before Bolger moved on to murder House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband, and their dog. Despite that misstep, police likely prevented further tragedy by conducting additional wellness checks on lawmakers.
As for Governor Tim Walz, Grage said the assassination letter and Bolger’s past associations do not implicate the governor in any wrongdoing. However, Grage noted that Walz’s popularity is beginning to slip, with a recent poll showing him underwater for only the second time in his political career. Grage also believes Walz has national ambitions and may mount a presidential bid in 2028.
Ultimately, Grage urged listeners to resist jumping to partisan conclusions and instead focus on the facts of the case. He described the murders as the act of a man in psychological and financial crisis, triggered by a blend of ideology, delusion, and desperation.
“This guy was clearly broken,” Grage said. “We may never fully understand why he did what he did—but that doesn’t mean we should stop asking.”