Ray Holmberg of Grand Forks — North Dakota’s longest-serving state senator — says he will resign following a report that he had traded scores of text messages with a man jailed on child pornography charges.
The 79-year-old Republican from District 17 says his resignation is effective June 1st. His term was scheduled to end June 30th. He announced in March that his current term would be his last.
In a statement, Holmberg said: “Recent news stories have become a distraction for the important work of the legislative assembly during its interim meetings.”
He added: “I want to do what I can, within my power, to lessen such distractions.”
In a brief statement, Gov. Doug Burgum said that he supports Holmberg’s decision.
Holmberg last week resigned as head of Legislative Management, a powerful panel that oversees the Legislature’s business between sessions.
In addition, allegations surfaced online from two years ago by a man who accused Holmberg of sexually assaulting him ten years earlier.
Fargo attorney Mark Friese, who is representing Holmberg, said last week that Holmberg has not been charged with any crime.
Holmberg had risen to become one of the state’s most powerful lawmakers in a career that spanned 46 years.
Holmberg will remain on the Legislature’s payroll through May and on its state-funded health insurance plan through July, a benefit that is worth about $1,425 monthly.
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(KNOX/AP)
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