State and federal involvement in apprehending and charging the alleged perpetrator of the assassinations in Minnesota

Question

(As of June 15, 2025) During the past couple of days the news in the U.S.A. has given prominence to the political assassinations in Minnesota. The latest word is that the man believed to be responsible was arrested tonight.

Local and state police departments and agencies were involved. The FBI and federal marshals were also involved.

Normally the punishment of murderers is the responsibility of state rather than federal authorities. Each of the 50 states has its own laws concerning murder. The persons assassinated were state legislators rather than federal officials. But it has even been suggested that the federal Department of Justice will take over the case from state prosecutors in Minnesota.

Why would this be treated as a federal matter?

Answer 1

Why would this be treated as a federal matter?

Speaking as a legal amateur and someone who only hears of this case through the news:

Because it fits the definition of "domestic terrorism" perfectly.

From "18 U.S. Code §2331: Definitions"

(5) The term “domestic terrorism” means activities that

(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;

(B) appear to be intended...

[...]

(III) ...to affect the conduct of a government by [...], assassination, [...]

(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States

From a pure outsiders perspective, murdering lawmakers because they are lawmakers (compared to lets say murdering a lawmaker because you didn't like their fence being on your property, or because you personally inherit their wealth) is exactly what this describes. As such, it is in the hands of the FBI, that probably has the authority to ask any other agency to help in their manhunt.

Whether a court will find that it applies is something we have to see in the future. Maybe the killer actually is the long lost secret relative that finally inherits the fortune, like in an Agatha Christie novel. But as a working theory, it seems very fitting.