Latest news with #MinotCityCouncil
USA Today
03-04-2025
- USA Today
North Dakota mayor resigns after texting lewd video to city attorney
North Dakota mayor resigns after texting lewd video to city attorney A North Dakota mayor resigned on Tuesday after an investigation into a lewd video he messaged to the city's top attorney in January. Minot Mayor Tom Ross texted City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim a video of him masturbating shortly after the two talked on the phone about a police officer's suicide, according to a report issued by the Minot City Council. Ross called Stalheim within minutes of sending the video, asking her to delete it without watching it and telling her it was intended for a girlfriend. The mayor stepped down from office the same day Minot legislators made the report into the incident public. "As much as I love the City of Minot and where it is heading, for the last, just about 5 years, I have had my priorities misaligned," Ross wrote in a resignation letter. "While I've done my very best to be a good leader, it's clear that time has come to an end." Ross told investigators that he sent the "sexy video" intended for his girlfriend on Jan. 14 when he was home on his lunch break. According to the report, he attributed the snafu to his unfamiliarity with using an iPhone compared to his Samsung S22 phone. The heart of the news — fast. Download the USA TODAY app for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. He also said that his girlfriend's name begins with "C" and Stalheim was saved in his as "City Attorney," the report added. Upon hearing the mayor's description of the video content, Stalheim told investigators she "fell out of her chair." The reaction, according to Stalheim, was also due to the "combined stress" of receiving news of the police officer's death, the report added. The city prosecutor asked another employee in the room to delete the video, who, in doing so, "caused it to play," according to the report. As a result, the employee, a Human Resources representative, "viewed some or all of the video." "The investigator found somewhat credible Ross's statements that the video was sent to Stalheim unintentionally and that the video was intended for Ross's intimate partner," the report added. "Due to Ross's position as one of increased visibility, responsibility, and trust, and due to his decision to use a personal cell phone to conduct city business, that the fact he would use that device to record and send videos of this nature is in and of itself reckless enough that he knew the risk he was taking by engaging in such behavior." Ross was elected mayor in 2022 after serving on the city council since 2020, according to a city profile of the former officials. Minot, home to more than 47,000 people, is located about 50 miles south of the Canadian border. The North Dakota city is known for a nearby Air Force base. Michael Loria is a national reporter on the USA TODAY breaking news desk. Contact him at mloria@ @mchael_mchael or on Signal at (202) 290-4585.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Dakota mayor resigns after sending lewd video to city attorney by mistake
MINOT, N.D. (AP) — The mayor of one of North Dakota's largest cities resigned after an investigation into him mistakenly sending a lewd video to the city attorney. Minot Mayor Tom Ross resigned Tuesday, the same day an investigative report was made public that found Ross sent a video of himself masturbating to City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim in January. He sent the video minutes after the two had a telephone call discussing a police officer's suicide. Ross asked Stalheim to delete the video, not to watch it and to keep the incident between them, the report said. Ross told an interviewer he had recorded the video at home during a lunch break and meant to send it to his romantic partner, not to Stalheim. He had said it was 'a sexy video for his girlfriend.' The report said Stalheim struggled with whether to make a formal report. Ross was her direct supervisor, and Stalheim's annual review was pending at the time, the report said. Her complaint asked for an apology from Ross and that he consider resigning as mayor. The investigator found Ross's conduct 'directly caused Stalheim's inability to work in an environment free from unreasonable sexual harassment and created an offensive work environment.' Ross said Wednesday he takes full responsibility and holds Stalheim 'in the utmost regard and respect.' He said he had not resigned earlier 'to respect the process.' He plans to focus on himself, healing and moving forward with his family, he said. Telephone and email messages seeking comment were left for Stalheim Tuesday. The Minot City Council on Tuesday to appoint a mayor from within the council after 15 days, which is the timeframe for citizens to petition for a special election. Ross was elected mayor in 2022 after serving two years on the city council. Minot, about 50 miles (80kilometers) south of the Canadian border, is home to more than 47,000 people.
Associated Press
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
North Dakota mayor resigns after sending lewd video to city attorney by mistake
MINOT, N.D. (AP) — The mayor of one of North Dakota's largest cities resigned after an investigation into him mistakenly sending a lewd video to the city attorney. Minot Mayor Tom Ross resigned Tuesday, the same day an investigative report was made public that found Ross sent a video of himself masturbating to City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim in January. He sent the video minutes after the two had a telephone call discussing a police officer's suicide. Ross asked Stalheim to delete the video, not to watch it and to keep the incident between them, the report said. Ross told an interviewer he had recorded the video at home during a lunch break and meant to send it to his romantic partner, not to Stalheim. He had said it was 'a sexy video for his girlfriend.' The report said Stalheim struggled with whether to make a formal report. Ross was her direct supervisor, and Stalheim's annual review was pending at the time, the report said. Her complaint asked for an apology from Ross and that he consider resigning as mayor. The investigator found Ross's conduct 'directly caused Stalheim's inability to work in an environment free from unreasonable sexual harassment and created an offensive work environment.' Ross said Wednesday he takes full responsibility and holds Stalheim 'in the utmost regard and respect.' He said he had not resigned earlier 'to respect the process.' He plans to focus on himself, healing and moving forward with his family, he said. Telephone and email messages seeking comment were left for Stalheim Tuesday. The Minot City Council on Tuesday to appoint a mayor from within the council after 15 days, which is the timeframe for citizens to petition for a special election. Ross was elected mayor in 2022 after serving two years on the city council. Minot, about 50 miles (80kilometers) south of the Canadian border, is home to more than 47,000 people.
