Latest news with #21DaysofPeace
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota Senate ethics committee takes no action on complaint against Champion
Senate president Bobby Joe Champion, right, talks after leading the session during the regular legislative session Monday, March 27, 2023. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) The Senate ethics committee on Monday took no action on a complaint against Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis. A GOP complaint alleged he violated Senate rules when he spearheaded state funds to an organization run by a former legal client. Republicans filed the complaint against Champion after Reformer reporting found that he advocated for a $3 million grant to violence prevention nonprofit 21 Days of Peace, run by north Minneapolis Rev. Jerry McAfee, but didn't disclose that McAfee had been his legal client. Champion says he did the work pro bono. Last month, the Senate Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct found that Champion had no financial conflict of interest when he advocated for an additional $1 million in funding for 21 Days of Peace earlier this year, but didn't make any findings about his 2023 actions. The committee, evenly split between Republican and Democratic members, on Monday voted on four related motions, which failed 2-2, on party-line votes. Because the committee deadlocked on taking action, the complaint will likely die and not be relitigated again. David Zoll, Champion's attorney, argued that Champion followed Senate rules, which state that senators only need to disclose a conflict of interest if an action were to benefit them financially. Champion represented McAfee pro bono, so he followed Senate rules even though he didn't disclose it, Zoll argued. Champion at the hearing criticized the media, arguing that the GOP senators in their ethics complaint relied on articles that presented a misinterpretation of the Senate ethics rules. 'A reporter can say that any of us have done something — and whether they're right or wrong — we would find ourselves sitting in this seat, because we don't have the power of the pen,' Champion said. Sen. Mary Kunesh, DFL-New Brighton, echoed Champion's criticism of the media. 'I think it's really important to recognize the role that media plays in making or breaking an individual, not just here in the Senate, but also bringing in information that perhaps is going to influence the general public one way or another without knowing the full bit of information,' Kunesh said. Champion has never disputed the facts of the Reformer's reporting. In a statement after the hearing, Champion said he was grateful the ethics committee didn't issue a finding of probable cause and is eager to get back to work. 'Elected officials have a responsibility to act with integrity, and to earn the trust and confidence of the public,' Champion said. 'I am proud of my record, and of my work as both a legislator and an attorney, particularly the pro bono legal services I have provided to churches and nonprofits.'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethics panel clears Senate President Bobby Joe Champion in conflict of interest case
A Minnesota Senate ethics panel cleared Senate President Bobby Joe Champion following a conflict of interest investigation. The Senate's Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct said Champion (DFL-Minneapolis) didn't have a financial conflict of interest when he proposed a bill to award $1 million to a nonprofit run by one of his former legal clients. However, the committee did say that Champion should disclose "any appearance of" conflicts of interest in the future. According to a report from the Minnesota Reformer, Champion helped steer millions in grant funding to a violence interruption group run by Rev. Jerry McAfee, despite representing McAfee's nonprofit Salem Inc. as an attorney on a series of mortgage cases starting in nonprofit 21 Days of Peace was awarded a $3 million grant in the 2023-24 legislative session through a bill authored by Champion. In March, Champion proposed another $1 million in funding to 21 Days of Peace, though this funding didn't make it into the final bill. Champion told the Reformer that the work he carried for McAfee starting in 2022 was pro-bono. You can read the full report here. Champion, who had requested the ethics review, released a statement following the panel's findings on Thursday, saying he is "grateful for the opportunity to clear my name, and to move on with the important work of passing an equitable, balance budget that will improve the lives of all Minnesotans." "I appreciate the conclusion the members of the Ethics Subcommittee, which as expected found that I had not violated Senate rules," Champion said. "I sought the advisory opinion from the in full confidence that I have followed the rules of the Senate with regards to conflict of interest, and conducted myself with integrity. As was discussed in this process, and acknowledged even by the Republican members, I have always acted in the service of the people. That mission encompasses both my legislative work and the pro bono legal services I have provided, particularly to churches and nonprofits." Champion temporarily stepped down from his role as chair of the ethics subcommittee during the investigation. He asked the panel for an advisory opinion, which ultimately said that Champion is advised to "disclose any appearance of a potential conflict of interest to the committees of interest when he is the chief author of bills." The ethics panel is evenly split between two Democrats and two Republicans. Sen. Andrew Mathews (R-Princeton) suggested that a standard of disclosing such information going forward is not only beneficial of legislative purposes, but also for "the people of Minnesota." "What we do when there is disclosure to our colleagues, when there is a bill that's going to direct taxpayer dollars to an entity that a member has a previous relationship with, I think a bare minimum disclosure of that past relationship is appropriate," Mathews said. Sen. Jeremy Miller (R-Winona) said: "It is difficult because we're all involved in our communities, we all serve on boards ... maybe we're not attorneys doing pro bono work but we do volunteer work. It is challenging but I think it's our responsibility to at least provide some recommendations so we're not back in this same situation." Ethics Subcommittee Chair Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), suggested the panel could make recommendations to the legislature on how procedures are done. Pappas defended Champion's pro bono work, adding that it would "be a shame" if he was to stop doing it. Senate Republicans have made a motion to remove Champion from his role as president of the chamber, which was deferred by Democrats to the rules of committee for future discussion. You can watch the committee hearing held on Thursday by clicking here or watching the embedded video below.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Champion denies conflict of interest, wrongdoing in first ethics hearing on funding for legal client
Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion makes two "zero" gestures to illustrate the amount of money he says he was paid for legal work for Rev. Jerry McAfee during a Senate Rules Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct meeting for an advisory opinion regarding a possible conflict of interest concerning legal work Senate President Bobby Joe Champion did for Rev. Jerry McAfee Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, denied to the ethics committee Tuesday that he did anything wrong when he spearheaded $3 million in state grants to a nonprofit run by a legal client, north Minneapolis Rev. Jerry McAfee. Champion reiterated that his legal work for McAfee was pro-bono and concluded just prior to the start of the 2023 legislative session. Champion never disclosed his relationship with McAfee, which the Reformer first reported earlier this month. Because the work was pro-bono, he said didn't need to tell his fellow senators about it when he authored a bill granting $3 million in public funds to McAfee's violence prevention group 21 Days of Peace. Following the Reformer's first report on April 4, Champion asked the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct to issue an advisory opinion on whether his actions represented a conflict of interest that should have been disclosed to the Senate. The committee held its first hearing in the matter on Tuesday and is scheduled to continue deliberating Thursday. Champion previously served as the chair of the ethics committee, but he stepped down following the Reformer report. Senate Republicans have also filed an ethics complaint against Champion. In a committee room Tuesday full of Black community leaders and Champion supporters — including McAfee — the Senate president said he represented McAfee pro-bono because he has deep connections to the north Minneapolis community. Champion and his family go to McAfee's church, and Champion said wanted to give back to the community that raised him. 'I did nothing wrong then, and I did nothing wrong now,' Champion said. McAfee, when first contacted by the Reformer, refused to say whether he'd paid Champion for the legal work, but he has since told other media and the Senate ethics committee that it was indeed pro-bono representation. Beginning in 2022, Champion represented McAfee and his nonprofit Salem Inc. in four cases involving nonpayment of mortgages on multiple Minneapolis properties. Champion detailed for the committee how the case ended in December 2022, but the order to dismiss the case wasn't issued by opposing counsel until February 2023. His involvement with the case was over by that time, Champion testified. Last month, Champion introduced a bill to provide an additional $1 million to 21 Days of Peace, but it didn't make it into the Senate jobs bill. It could be included in a bill as the session continues, however. Under Minnesota law, legislative conflicts of interest are narrowly defined and only exist when the official does something to benefit themselves financially. Minnesota's part-time Legislature creates many opportunities for conflicts of interest, as most lawmakers have another job. Outside ethics experts have said that Minnesota's conflict of interest laws are among the weakest in the nation. A 2015 Center for Public Integrity report found that Minnesota ranked 44th in the nation on legislative accountability. Champion, a practicing defense attorney, was also represented Tuesday by attorney David Zoll, who recently represented Rep. Brad Tabke, DFL-Shakopee, in an election contest case late last year. The Senate president testified that he's open to changing Minnesota's ethics laws to ensure accountability for lawmakers in various professions. 'Right now — when you think in terms of lawyers — you can track lawyers, but we don't track accountants and insurance brokers or real estate agents,' Champion said. After the committee hearing, Champion told the Reformer in an interview that previous reporting about his connection with McAfee falsely jumps to the conclusion that he has a conflict of interest. 'If you look at the language of the law, it clearly says the official has to have a financial interest. When there's a deviation from doing that and then immediately going to titles (headlines) like I 'steered' $3 million to a client, or 'here are these other conflicts' — you're reaching a conclusion that there's a conflict without even looking at the law,' Champion said. Asked if he's concerned about the appearance of a conflict of interest, regardless of whether he violated Senate rules, Champion said he's being unfairly singled out for common legislative behavior. 'My conduct is no different from anyone else's conduct … but it feels like you're making my situation bigger, wider, more corrupt, more fraud, than taking a very narrow but appropriate and balanced approach. If they want to change the conflict rules, change them.'
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota Senate Republicans file ethics complaint against Champion
Senate president Bobby Joe Champion, right, talks after leading the session during the regular legislative session Monday, March 27, 2023. Photo by Nicole Neri for the Minnesota Reformer. Minnesota Senate Republicans filed an ethics complaint against Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, arguing that he used his elected position to steer funding for his legal client. The Reformer first reported last week that Champion, a practicing attorney, had advocated for millions in grants for a nonprofit headed up by one of his legal clients, the Rev. Jerry McAfee. Champion says his pro-bono legal work for McAfee concluded just prior to the start of the 2023 legislative session, when he successfully steered $3 million in public funds to McAfee's violence prevention group 21 Days of Peace. Earlier this month, Champion introduced another bill allocating $1 million to 21 Days of Peace. Champion did not disclose to his fellow senators that he had represented McAfee and his nonprofit Salem Inc. in four court cases involving nonpayment of mortgages on multiple Minneapolis properties. Senate Republicans in their ethics complaint argued that Champion's failure to disclose his relationship with McAfee 'violated Senate Rules by falling short of the highest ethical standards, betraying the public trust, and giving the appearance that his independence of judgement was impaired by his legal relationship with Rev. McAfee and Salem Inc.' 'This is a clear and deeply troubling case of a public official using their legislative position to potentially benefit their private legal clients,' Sen. Michael Kreun, R-Blaine, said in a statement. 'With what we know, at a minimum this is a conflict of interest that warranted disclosure. At worst, it's an abuse of public office for personal and professional gain.' Champion earlier this week told the Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee that the reporting about his connection with McAfee and the grant funding he steered to the nonprofit was a 'smear' on his name. Champion has temporarily stepped down as chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Ethics, and he has asked the committee to issue an advisory opinion on whether his actions on behalf of McAfee's group represented a conflict of interest and should have been disclosed under Senate rules. 'There's no conflict from my vantage point,' Champion told the Senate jobs committee. McAfee isn't the only legal client to benefit from Champion's grantmaking: In 2024, he provided legal representation for a Minneapolis-based substance abuse treatment provider, Turning Point. The prior year, Champion spearheaded a successful effort to direct $1 million in public funds to the organization for improving their facility. Champion said he was not compensated for his legal representation of Turning Point, and he was involved in the case only briefly. The Star Tribune reported that Champion's executive assistant, Shemeka Bogan, previously worked for McAfee's 21 Days of Peace. Champion and Bogan both previously worked for the nonprofit Stairstep Foundation, and Champion in his Senate role has advocated for public funding for Stairstep. Champion's ethically questionable conduct underscores the perils of Minnesota's part-time Legislature when most lawmakers need to earn a living beyond their $51,750 legislative salary, and how lawmaker-directed grants create an ethics minefield. Some lawmakers are now seeking to curtail the practice of lawmakers giving public funds directly to nonprofits.
CBS News
08-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Minn. Senate President Bobby Joe Champion steps back as ethics panel chair amid conflict-of-interest concerns
Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion said he would temporarily step down as chair of the chamber's ethics committee in the wake of concerns that he did not disclose a conflict of interest when bringing forward legislation that would send grant money to a local nonprofit. The Minnesota Reformer first reported the connection last week. The nonprofit online news outlet said Champion, a Democrat representing north Minneapolis, in 2022 worked in his private capacity as an attorney for Rev. Jerry McAfee and his nonprofit Salem Inc.—a connection he did not share when he brought forward legislation this session that would steer a $1 million state grant to McAfee's 21 Days of Peace violence prevention organization. Champion told the Reformer he did the work pro bono and that he didn't need to disclose it because it preceded the 2023-2024 legislative session, during which he also advocated for funding for 21 Days of Peace. On Monday in a statement, he said he would temporarily step aside as chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Ethics pending advice from the panel, which Senate rules allow members to do should an issue arise. "I understand that questions have been raised about a potential conflict of interest regarding my work as a senator and a private practice attorney. Out of an abundance of caution, I have asked the Senate Ethics Subcommittee for an advisory opinion," Champion said. During a Monday afternoon meeting of the Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee, Champion, who is the chairman, walked through the draft of the budget bill that includes grants for community organizations offering workforce development and job training. Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake, asked Champion if, in light of the Reformer report, he could assure the committee that he "had no legal contracts with any of the named organizations in this bill." Champion replied that it's "challenging" when "someone tries to smear your name with what's written in the papers," but that he "1,000%" did not represent anyone in the large budget proposal that will be worked on through the end of the session . "I just want to make sure that I assure you I am not representing anyone that is outlined on our sheet—not pro bono, not for a fee, nothing," Champion said. This story will be updated.
