US EditionMinnesota House Ethics Complaints Dismissed: 3 Lawmakers Accused of Drinking, DWI, Lobbying
The committee said there was no probable cause in complaints over lawmakers’ conduct and a former lobbyist’s Boundary Waters bills.
- On Friday, May 1, The Minnesota House Ethics Committee unanimously dismissed three ethics complaints, finding no probable cause for disciplinary action against the lawmakers.
- House Democrats filed complaints against Rep. Elliott Engen, R-Lino Lakes, and Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, in early April for leaving an Education Finance committee meeting on March 26 to drink before a floor debate.
- Engen said he "didn't see need to sit through a committee," while Ethics Committee Chair Kelly Moller, DFL-Shoreview, emphasized members are "expected to attend assigned committees."
- A third complaint alleged Rep. Alex Falconer, DFL-Eden Prairie, had conflicts regarding Boundary Waters legislation due to his former lobbyist ties, which his attorney, David Zoll, called "intended to distract."
- The hearing raised broader questions about legislative norms, including how present lawmakers should be during work and what ties to lobby groups are too tight, despite the committee's dismissal.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Pine Journal
House ethics committee drops complaints, but restates the 'norms' of lawmaking
ST. PAUL — The Minnesota House Ethics Committee heard and later unanimously voted to dismiss three ethics complaints on Friday, May 1. While the hearing didn't have much teeth in terms of disciplinary action, it raised questions about lawmaking “norms”: How present lawmakers should be during their work, whether certain work actually “matters” and what ties to lobby groups are too tight. Engen, Hudson complaints House Democrats filed an ethics c…
Other Minnesota legislators also drink on the job, GOP lawmakers argue in defense of day drinking
Rep. Elliott Engen, R-White Bear Township, told members of a Minnesota House ethics committee Friday that he’s a good legislator who doesn’t like to listen to “nonsensical ideas” brought forward by lefty activists. That’s why he ditched a committee hearing in March to grab lunch at a local bar and have a beer. Engen was […]
Minnesota lawmakers face ethics complaints over DWI incident, conflict allegations
Democrats accuse two GOP representatives of misconduct tied to a March traffic stop, while Republicans allege a Democratic lawmaker’s advocacy work creates a conflict of interest.
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