The man charged with killing the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband, and wounding a state senator and his wife, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in federal court on Thursday.

The plea during the brief hearing in federal court in Minneapolis was expected; an attorney for Vance Boelter had said last month that he planned to plead not guilty.

Boelter, 58, of Green Isle, was indicted July 15 on six counts of murder, stalking and firearms violations. The murder charges could carry the federal death penalty, though prosecutors say that decision is several months away.

Wearing an orange jail sweatshirt, yellow pants, and orange canvas shoes, Boelter stood unshackled at the courtroom lectern beside defense attorney Manny Atwal.

“Are you ready to be arraigned?” asked M

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