A Minnesota state senator has criticised actress and socialite Sara Foster after she suggested that the murder of Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman may be connected to an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud involving Minnesota childcare providers.
Authorities have said there is no evidence linking the killings to any fraud investigation.
Background on the Hortman killings
Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were shot dead earlier this year at their home in Brooklyn Park. Police say the suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, had planned to target dozens of liberal lawmakers and abortion providers.
Investigators have repeatedly stated that the murders were not connected to any financial misconduct cases.
Fraud scrutiny fuels online speculation
Foster’s remarks came amid heightened scrutiny of alleged financial misconduct in Minnesota, following renewed attention on a daycare centre accused of fraud. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is continuing its investigation.
A viral video posted by independent journalist Nick Shirley showed an apparently vacant daycare with a misspelt sign reading “Quality Learing Center.” The facility reportedly received millions of dollars in public funding, sparking anger among some lawmakers and renewed criticism of state oversight.
Foster’s social media comments
On Saturday, Foster, 44, the daughter of Canadian music producer David Foster, posted on X suggesting a possible link between Hortman’s death and investigations into alleged fraud within Minnesota’s Somali community.
“So are we just planning on pretending like her murder isn’t connected to the multi billion fraud scandal just uncovered? Mmmmkay,” Foster wrote.
She shared the post alongside a video of Hortman appearing emotional after casting the only Democratic vote to repeal eligibility for undocumented adults to access MinnesotaCare, days before her death.
Lawmakers reject conspiracy claims
Republican state senator Julia Coleman publicly rejected Foster’s suggestion, calling it a conspiracy theory.
“I am a Minnesota Republican legislator. I never agreed with Melissa. Not once. But I’m begging people to stop sharing this conspiracy theory,” Coleman wrote on X.
She added: “Please, unless you have evidence, stop trying to get social media clout off the death of a good person that you know nothing about.”
Clarifying the context of the video
Coleman said Hortman’s emotional reaction in the circulated video was not driven by fear, but by the difficulty of the vote.
“She’s crying because she had to take this vote to keep the government open, and it was incredibly hard for her,” Coleman said, adding that the decision weighed heavily on Hortman despite political disagreements.
Coleman also noted that others allegedly targeted by Boelter did not take the same vote as Hortman.
Officials deny political or fraud links
Addressing claims circulating online, Coleman defended Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, stating that neither the governor nor fraud investigations were connected to the killings.
“The fraud had nothing to do with the assassinations,” Coleman wrote. “The assassin was deranged. Completely and utterly deranged. And Minnesota lost a good woman because of it.”
Boelter is also charged with shooting state senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman, both of whom survived. He is further accused of attempting to shoot their daughter, Hope Hoffman.
