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CBS News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
GOP Minnesota Senate candidate Keri Heintzeman says campaign finance complaint is a "smear"
A GOP Minnesota Senate candidate says a complaint filed Wednesday accusing her of violating campaign finance law is a "smear." Keri Heintzeman won the GOP primary last week in the special election to replace disgraced former state Sen. Justin Eichorn, who resigned following charges of attempting to pay a teenage girl for sex. Now, the Minnesota DFL alleges she ignored campaign contribution limits by accepting more than the maximum allowed from nine different donors. "This is a baseless effort to smear my reputation just before the election. The accusation lacks merit, and my campaign adheres strictly to the highest ethical standards," Heintzeman told WCCO. The complaint says state law does not allow candidates to accept more than $1,000 per donor, but records show nine donors gave her two separate $1,000 donations. Heintzeman says she reached out to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to confirm rules regarding contribution limits. The board told WCCO contribution limits for the special election cycle are separate from the limits for a regular election cycle. That means, under Minnesota Statutes Section 10A.27 — the law she is accused of violating — an individual could donate up to $1,000 before the official election cycle begins and up to another $1,000 after it begins. The special election time frame for Senate District 6 is between March 25 and May 20. According to the complaint filed against Heintzeman, all of the first $1,000 donations were given between March 22 and 24. The second $1,000 donations were made between March 28 and 30. "Those periods are parts of separate election cycle segments so the contribution limits apply to those periods independently," an employee for the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board said. Heintzeman used to work for the Trump campaign and is the wife of GOP state Rep. Josh Heintzeman. The special election will be held on Tuesday, where Heintzeman will face off against DFL candidate Denise Slipy to see who will represent the Brainerd Lakes area — a district that was dominated by the DFL for many years but now leans toward the GOP. Whoever wins will take the oath of office in early May ahead of the crucial final weeks before the legislative session must end on May 19.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Audit into Sauk Rapids Police Department gives glimpse into body camera policies
An independent audit of the Sauk Rapids Police Department's body camera use and policies came back with flying colors, and in compliance with Minnesota Statutes. The audit, performed by Lynn Lembcke Consulting, found the department in compliance of every category under review, ranging from data retention to public comment, to camera use, according to the independent audit report. Sauk Rapids was found in compliance of keeping body camera footage for at least 90 days, as required by state law. As described in the report, the independent auditor verified this compliance by selecting reports and comparing when the file was created and deleted. Sauk Rapids police response: 16-year-old boy run over by car during Nerf war In the report, the auditor said the police department provides proper access to body camera data. Data, such as camera footage, is only provided to employees who need to view data to perform their job responsibilities, according to the audit report. Roles and permissions are granted by the department's assistant chief of police and a sergeant. The Sauk Rapids City Council was found in compliance of holding a public hearing when making decisions about body cameras, according to the audit. The governing body discussed implementing a body camera policy in early 2020. Sauk Rapids officials held a public open house on the proposals on Jan. 27, 2020 and a city council public hearing on Feb. 10, 2020. The audit report was sent to the city on March 30, according to the Sauk Rapids City Council packet. Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@ This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Sauk Rapids police pass body camera audit with flying colors
