Minnesota Lobbyist Charged After Alleged Threats to “Shoot Lawmakers” Amid Capitol Tensions

A veteran Minnesota lobbyist has been charged with making violent threats after allegedly sending a series of text messages that described plans to shoot politicians at the state Capitol, boasting about his ammunition and threatening to “blow somebody’s face off.”

Jonathan Bohn, 41, of Woodbury, was arrested and charged in Carver County with one felony count of making threats of violence, following a complaint filed by a homeowner in Waconia who said they received disturbing messages from him on June 18, 2025.

Authorities say the messages, which were shared with investigators, included several chilling statements. Among them were:

• “Today I bought 500 bullets. I can’t wait to shoot one of you mother—ers in the face.”

• “Excited to have my gun at the Capitol and blow somebody’s f—— face off.”

• “You’re a s— person.”

• “I can’t wait to pop one of you mother—— in the head.”

The victim told deputies that the messages began arriving shortly after 7:25 p.m., prompting them to leave a restaurant and rush home to lock their doors. Investigators noted that the two had previously been friends but had stopped communicating “for a considerable period of time” due to political disagreements.

The complainant also told law enforcement that Bohn’s long-standing work as a lobbyist and frequent presence at the Minnesota Capitol made the messages particularly alarming. “It wasn’t just anger in words,” one official close to the investigation told reporters. “He had access — and that raised the stakes.”

Officials Respond to Growing Security Concerns

In a statement, the Minnesota House Information Services clarified that the threat did not appear to target any specific lawmaker or staff member. The House Sergeant at Arms Office also said that it had received no direct reports of threats against Capitol employees.

Nonetheless, the incident has intensified security discussions at the Capitol, coming amid an already heightened state of alert following a series of violent attacks against lawmakers earlier in June.

A State Reeling from Political Violence

The charges against Bohn come just days after what officials are calling one of Minnesota’s most tragic political attacks in decades. On June 14, a man identified as Vance Boelter, 57, allegedly impersonated a police officer before embarking on a deadly rampage targeting state legislators.

Authorities say Boelter fatally shot Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and wounded Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, before being apprehended after a multi-day manhunt. Investigators later discovered that Boelter had also traveled to the homes of Rep. Kristin Bahner and Sen. Ann Rest, though neither was harmed.

The shocking attacks led to renewed scrutiny of online databases that publish personal information about public officials, as law enforcement warned that such data can easily be exploited by individuals with violent intent.

Boelter remains in federal custody at the Sherburne County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

Bohn Issues Public Apology

Following his arrest, Bohn released a written statement expressing remorse for his words but insisting that he never intended to act on them.

“Earlier this week, I was grieving the horrific acts of violence committed against my friends and colleagues,” he wrote. “In that moment of deep grief and frustration, I sent a series of heated texts to a friend of nearly thirteen years. The words were born of pain, not intent. I am a hurting person, not a violent one.”

Bohn went on to condemn all forms of political violence and called for greater civility in public discourse. “I failed to turn down the temperature when it mattered most,” he said. “For that, I am profoundly sorry.”

Despite the apology, investigators have emphasized that the language and specificity of Bohn’s messages required immediate action. “Threats referencing firearms and the Capitol can’t be ignored,” said one Carver County official. “We have to take every word seriously — especially given recent events.”

Court Imposes Restrictions

On June 20, a judge imposed several restrictions as part of Bohn’s conditional release. He is prohibited from possessing any firearms, contacting the victim, or coming within half a mile of the Minnesota Capitol grounds. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 27, 2025.

Legal analysts note that while “threats of violence” charges in Minnesota carry potential prison time, outcomes often depend on the perceived credibility and intent behind the statements. “If the prosecution can demonstrate that these weren’t just reckless words, but a genuine threat, the case becomes much more serious,” said criminal defense attorney Rachel Lyman.

A State on Edge

The back-to-back incidents — one involving deadly violence, the other a chilling series of threats — have left many Minnesotans unsettled about the tone of modern politics.

Political observers say the state, long known for its tradition of civility, now finds itself grappling with growing hostility, both online and in person. “We’re watching the consequences of our rhetoric play out in real time,” one state lawmaker commented. “It’s not just words anymore — it’s fear.”

As Minnesota continues to mourn and rebuild trust in its institutions, the case against Jonathan Bohn serves as both a warning and a reminder: even words spoken in anger can carry devastating consequences.