Minn. lawmaker urged to step aside amid scandal

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Minn. lawmaker urged to step aside amid scandal | Nation & World | The Seattle Times

Minn. lawmaker urged to step aside amid scandal
A Minnesota state lawmaker who authorities say admitted having a liaison with a 17-year-old boy at a rest stop faced calls from party leaders Monday to give up his re-election bid.

By BRIAN BAKST

Associated Press

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ST. PAUL, Minn. —
A Minnesota state lawmaker who authorities say admitted having a liaison with a 17-year-old boy at a rest stop faced calls from party leaders Monday to give up his re-election bid.

Rep. Kerry Gauthier, 56, hasn't been charged in the July incident, and authorities said he wouldn't be because the boy was older than 16, the legal age of consent, and no money was exchanged. Police say the teenager responded to the lawmaker's Craigslist ad for "no strings attached" sex.

Gauthier admitted to the liaison, according to police reports made public late last week. The teen told police the two had oral sex, according to the reports.

The scandal has hurt Democrats' hopes of retaking at least one chamber of the Legislature. They need to pick up at least six seats in the House, and Gauthier's Duluth-area seat usually is reliably Democratic. But if he drops out, any Democrat seeking to replace him would have to run as a write-in candidate, making the race much more difficult to win.

Still, Democratic leaders called on Gauthier to withdraw from the race. House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, D-Minneapolis, said he was "deeply disappointed" in Gauthier's conduct and wants him to step aside.

"As I shared with Rep. Gauthier, I believe he should withdraw from the race for re-election," Thissen said in a statement released by his office.

Less than an hour later, state Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin echoed Thissen's comments, although neither man asked Gauthier to leave office before his term ends in January.

"His actions are inexcusable," Martin said. "No one in our party condones what he did, nor will we defend him in this matter."

Gauthier hasn't commented to reporters about the incident. A call to his cellphone rolled to voicemail Monday. Thissen's statement said he expects Gauthier to "address these issues publicly and soon."

Gauthier was hospitalized for an undisclosed condition until last weekend, which prompted Thissen to wait to issue his statement. House Speaker Kurt Zellers, a Republican, on Friday urged Gauthier to resign.
 
Yep, in Minnesota we have winners to say the least.
We have the clown that the OP addresses and then we have the GOP, who was/is 2 million bucks in debt and had to scramble to not get evicted from their offices. The GOP was also fined $30,000 for improper
spending and contributions.
So we have a Democrat pimp running for office and a GOP who can't properly handle their own finances but they want to handle the state's finances.
The Dems and GOP are simply embarrassing.
 
Minn. lawmaker urged to step aside amid scandal | Nation & World | The Seattle Times

Minn. lawmaker urged to step aside amid scandal
A Minnesota state lawmaker who authorities say admitted having a liaison with a 17-year-old boy at a rest stop faced calls from party leaders Monday to give up his re-election bid.

By BRIAN BAKST

Associated Press

Related
Most Popular CommentsHide / Show comments No comments have been posted to this article.
Start the conversation >

ST. PAUL, Minn. —
A Minnesota state lawmaker who authorities say admitted having a liaison with a 17-year-old boy at a rest stop faced calls from party leaders Monday to give up his re-election bid.

Rep. Kerry Gauthier, 56, hasn't been charged in the July incident, and authorities said he wouldn't be because the boy was older than 16, the legal age of consent, and no money was exchanged. Police say the teenager responded to the lawmaker's Craigslist ad for "no strings attached" sex.

Gauthier admitted to the liaison, according to police reports made public late last week. The teen told police the two had oral sex, according to the reports.

The scandal has hurt Democrats' hopes of retaking at least one chamber of the Legislature. They need to pick up at least six seats in the House, and Gauthier's Duluth-area seat usually is reliably Democratic. But if he drops out, any Democrat seeking to replace him would have to run as a write-in candidate, making the race much more difficult to win.

Still, Democratic leaders called on Gauthier to withdraw from the race. House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, D-Minneapolis, said he was "deeply disappointed" in Gauthier's conduct and wants him to step aside.

"As I shared with Rep. Gauthier, I believe he should withdraw from the race for re-election," Thissen said in a statement released by his office.

Less than an hour later, state Democratic Party Chairman Ken Martin echoed Thissen's comments, although neither man asked Gauthier to leave office before his term ends in January.

"His actions are inexcusable," Martin said. "No one in our party condones what he did, nor will we defend him in this matter."

Gauthier hasn't commented to reporters about the incident. A call to his cellphone rolled to voicemail Monday. Thissen's statement said he expects Gauthier to "address these issues publicly and soon."

Gauthier was hospitalized for an undisclosed condition until last weekend, which prompted Thissen to wait to issue his statement. House Speaker Kurt Zellers, a Republican, on Friday urged Gauthier to resign.

Dems are allowed one Statutory rape in their career, more than that then it becomes an issue, maybe
 
Did he break the law? If no, then I don't care.

Is that so?

And your thoughts on the "legimate rape" republican character?

He's an idiot. The only reason I would care about his beliefs on rape is because he has sponsored bills based on his own brand of false science. But even then, I dont care all that much because he's not my idiot, he belongs to Missouri.
 

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