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Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethics panel deadlocks on complaint against Minnesota Senate President
An ethics complaint Republicans filed against Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, stalled Monday after a legislative ethics panel failed to reach consensus on how to proceed. The two Democratic-Farmer-Labor and two Republican members of the Senate Subcommittee on Ethics deadlocked on whether there was probable cause that Champion broke ethics rules when he helped obtain millions in state funding for a nonprofit whose founder he had done free legal work for. They also tied in a 2-2 vote on a DFL-backed motion to dismiss the complaint. The lack of action comes after the subcommittee asked Champion to disclose any potential conflicts of interest at an April 24 meeting but made no other rulings. Champion initially asked for an advisory opinion from the Senate Subcommittee on Ethics after his pro bono work for a Minneapolis violence prevention organization had come to light earlier in April. He temporarily stepped down as chair of the Ethics Subcommittee and Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, took over the position as the panel handled the matter. Champion faced allegations about potential conflicts because he carried a 2023 bill that helped the Minneapolis violence prevention nonprofit 21 Days of Peace obtain $3 million in funding. In 2025, he sponsored another bill to help provide another $1 million. Republicans in their complaint argued Champion's pro bono work for the nonprofit's founder, Rev. Jerry McAfee and his parent group, Salem, Inc., harmed public perception of the Senate by giving the impression of a conflict of interest. 'Due to the relationship Salem Inc. had with Sen. Champion, it is difficult for the public to have faith that the projects selected by the Legislature for public funds are being chosen based on merit,' said Sen. Michael Kreun, R-Blaine, who brought the complaint against Champion. Champion has maintained that his pro bono work for McAfee ended in 2022 and did not coincide with his sponsorship of the bills. He and his lawyer also argued that his ties to the nonprofit do not violate Minnesota Senate ethics rules because there was no financial interest. 'I thank the members of the ethics subcommittee for their work. As I have maintained since the beginning of this discussion, I have followed the rules of the Senate,' Champion said in a statement. 'I did not introduce or advocate for legislation on which I had a conflict of interest and I'm grateful that the subcommittee did not find probable cause.' Minnesota's ethics rules for legislators are not particularly expansive. Current law bans members from voting on matters that result in a direct financial gain for themselves or their business disproportionate to others in the same field. Political observers and lawmakers of both parties have noted that Minnesota's part-time 'citizen legislature' naturally lends itself to members voting on issues directly related to their work and communities. Teachers, nurses and business owners often back or carry bills directly related to their lines of work. Champion's backers have argued that his work with nonprofits and religious leaders in his district is the mark of an effective state representative. In response to DFLers' unwillingness to join GOP members in backing the ethics complaint Monday, Kreun said it was 'disappointing that partisanship won out.' Letters: 'Let's not make it harder to learn,' Walz wrote. A private school principal responds. Debate on unemployment benefits for school workers derails key MN budget piece St. Paul, MN Wild trim Xcel Center's state request from $400M to $50M Minnesota loosens distance exemption on state employee return to office order Minnesota Senate OKs liquor bill with 'social districts' provision
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethics panel deadlocks on complaint against Minnesota Senate President
An ethics complaint Republicans filed against Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, stalled Monday after a legislative ethics panel failed to reach consensus on how to proceed. The two Democratic-Farmer-Labor and two Republican members of the Senate Subcommittee on Ethics deadlocked on whether there was probable cause that Champion broke ethics rules when he helped obtain millions in state funding for a nonprofit whose founder he had done free legal work for. They also tied in a 2-2 vote on a DFL-backed motion to dismiss the complaint. The lack of action comes after the subcommittee asked Champion to disclose any potential conflicts of interest at an April 24 meeting but made no other rulings. Champion initially asked for an advisory opinion from the Senate Subcommittee on Ethics after his pro bono work for a Minneapolis violence prevention organization had come to light earlier in April. He temporarily stepped down as chair of the Ethics Subcommittee and Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, took over the position as the panel handled the matter. Champion faced allegations about potential conflicts because he carried a 2023 bill that helped the Minneapolis violence prevention nonprofit 21 Days of Peace obtain $3 million in funding. In 2025, he sponsored another bill to help provide another $1 million. Republicans in their complaint argued Champion's pro bono work for the nonprofit's founder, Rev. Jerry McAfee and his parent group, Salem, Inc., harmed public perception of the Senate by giving the impression of a conflict of interest. 'Due to the relationship Salem Inc. had with Sen. Champion, it is difficult for the public to have faith that the projects selected by the Legislature for public funds are being chosen based on merit,' said Sen. Michael Kreun, R-Blaine, who brought the complaint against Champion. Champion has maintained that his pro bono work for McAfee ended in 2022 and did not coincide with his sponsorship of the bills. He and his lawyer also argued that his ties to the nonprofit do not violate Minnesota Senate ethics rules because there was no financial interest. 'I thank the members of the ethics subcommittee for their work. As I have maintained since the beginning of this discussion, I have followed the rules of the Senate,' Champion said in a statement. 'I did not introduce or advocate for legislation on which I had a conflict of interest and I'm grateful that the subcommittee did not find probable cause.' Minnesota's ethics rules for legislators are not particularly expansive. Current law bans members from voting on matters that result in a direct financial gain for themselves or their business disproportionate to others in the same field. Political observers and lawmakers of both parties have noted that Minnesota's part-time 'citizen legislature' naturally lends itself to members voting on issues directly related to their work and communities. Teachers, nurses and business owners often back or carry bills directly related to their lines of work. Champion's backers have argued that his work with nonprofits and religious leaders in his district is the mark of an effective state representative. In response to DFLers' unwillingness to join GOP members in backing the ethics complaint Monday, Kreun said it was 'disappointing that partisanship won out.' Letters: 'Let's not make it harder to learn,' Walz wrote. A private school principal responds. Debate on unemployment benefits for school workers derails key MN budget piece St. Paul, MN Wild trim Xcel Center's state request from $400M to $50M Minnesota loosens distance exemption on state employee return to office order Minnesota Senate OKs liquor bill with 'social districts' provision
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
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethics panel: MN Senate President must disclose possible future conflicts
The Senate Subcommittee on Ethics on Thursday advised Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion to disclose potential conflicts of interest in future bills he sponsors. Though in that same motion, the panel made no finding on whether Champion had a conflict of interest when he carried a 2023 bill that gave state money to a nonprofit whose founder he had done free legal work for in the past. Further, they found no financial conflict in a bill he sponsored this year to bring that organization another $1 million. The decision was unanimous, though the Ethics Subcommittee has two Democratic-Farmer-Labor and two Republican members and often deadlocks or rules inconclusively. On May 5, it's expected to hear a Senate GOP complaint against Champion regarding his relationships with nonprofits he helped fund. Champion, a Minneapolis DFLer, has been under scrutiny in recent weeks after reports that he helped the violence prevention nonprofit 21 Days of Peace obtain $3 million in funding, and that he had done pro bono work for its founder, Jerry McAfee. The senator temporarily stepped down as chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct and asked for an advisory opinion on April 7, and has maintained that his pro bono work did not coincide with his sponsorship of the bills. ''I appreciate the conclusion the members of the Ethics Subcommittee, which as expected found that I had not violated Senate rules,' Champion said in a statement. '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.' Minnesota's ethics rules for legislators are not particularly expansive. Current law bans members from voting on matters that result in a direct financial gain for themselves or their business disproportionate to others in the same field. Political observers and lawmakers of both parties have noted that Minnesota's part-time 'citizen legislature' naturally lends itself to members voting on issues directly related to their work and communities. Teachers, nurses and business owners often back or carry bills directly related to their lines of work. As the Senate Ethics Subcommittee prepared to pass a motion Thursday, Chair Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, who joined the committee after Champion stepped down, reflected on that challenge for Minnesota lawmakers. 'I think that we have to be very careful with this advisory opinion and what we issue, because if we're doing our job as legislators, as I said, we have a lot of relationships and a lot of people we know in the community, and that informs our work as legislators,' she said. 'That should be considered a good thing.' Pappas said the advisory opinion from the Ethics Subcommittee telling Champion to disclose potential conflicts in the future was a reminder for all members to weigh how their connections might affect their work. Champion's connection to nonprofits he helped fund has raised questions in the Legislature about changing state ethics rules. Senate Republicans have said that regardless of whether Champion violated rules, state lawmakers should hold themselves to a higher standard of conduct. Sen. Michael Kreun, R-Blaine, who brought the complaint against Champion, has said a big part of his concern is that Champion had interactions with McAfee, which would be private under attorney-client privilege rules. 'The choice to carry legislation that provided funding to an entity with which Champion has a privileged relationship without disclosing the relationship fails to meet those standards,' he said in a Thursday statement. 'This opinion from the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct acknowledges that fact by saying he should make disclosures in the future.' The Ethics Subcommittee will hear Kreun's complaint at a meeting where they'll officially adopt Thursday's advisory opinion. Kreun's complaint requests that the subcommittee look into whether Champion violated rules prohibiting actions that discredit the Senate or undermine public trust in government. UMN disease research center to launch vaccine integrity project Walz seeks GOP help on budget, blasts Trump 'chaos' in State of the State speech Jim Gelbmann: Our partisan endorsement process is unrepresentative, polarizing and self-serving Minnesota gun-carry permit age drops from 21 to 18 after legal challenge Keith Ellison sues Trump administration over orders on transgender issues
