Holmberg hires attorney, resigns as Legislative Mgmt. head

North Dakota state Sen. Ray Holmberg of Grand Forks has resigned as head of Legislative Management, a panel that oversees the Legislature’s business between sessions.

The resignation comes just days after a media report that Holmberg had exchanged scores of text messages with a man jailed on child pornography charges.

Earlier this week Democratic-NPL Chair Patrick Hart issued a statement calling on Holmberg to step down as Chair of Legislative Management until all the facts of the case are known and the senator can establish that he is not connected to these “horrific charges.”

Meanwhile, a Fargo criminal defense attorney says he has been hired to represent Holmberg on allegations from a man who accused Holmberg of sexually assaulting him 12 years ago.

Mark Friese of the Vogel Law Firm confirms that he has been hired by the Republican senator, who is 79 years old.

Holmberg announced in March that he would not seek re-election. He has been in the Legislature since 1976.

.

.

.

(KNOX/KFGO/AP)