Leaked DHS Memo Warned Of Growing Home Attack Threats On Officials Before Minnesota Shootings

A leaked Department of Homeland Security memo from early 2024 warned of a rising threat against high-profile public officials being attacked at their private residences, highlighting a recent shift from traditional public targets to more vulnerable home settings. This warning eerily foreshadowed the June 2025 shootings of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman, State Representative Melissa Hortman, and their spouses in politically motivated attacks, with one suspect impersonating law enforcement and carrying a hit list of targeted lawmakers. The memo cited an increase in online messaging promoting attacks on officials' homes, fueled by heightened political polarization and conspiracy theories, complicating law enforcement's ability to detect and prevent such plots. Governor Tim Walz described the shootings as targeted political violence, and while Hortman and her husband died, Hoffman and his wife survived but were seriously wounded. The attacks underscore the challenges posed by attackers exploiting less secure residential environments and the broad ideological motives behind these violent acts. Authorities continue searching for suspects amid rising concerns over the safety of public officials in their own homes.