South Dakota lawmaker resigns over sex with interns

[DonViejo]

Source: Associated Press



MONDAY, JAN 23, 2017 11:00 AM EST

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota legislator who acknowledged having sexual contact with two interns resigned on Monday, saying he regrets his actions.

Republican Rep. Mathew Wollmann announced his resignation in a letter, which was first reported by the Mitchell Daily Republic. The 26-year-old former Marine didn’t immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press.

Last week, he said both interns were over age 21 and that the contact was consensual. But his colleagues had voted to set up a committee to investigate his actions and were scheduled to meet Tuesday. Majority Leader Lee Qualm told the AP that Wollmann, from the eastern South Dakota city of Madison, informed him in person on Monday that he would resign.

“I have nothing but the greatest respect for those that I have grown so close to these past two years, and even in these early days of the 92nd legislative session,” Wollmann wrote in the letter. “Those that read this should know that it is my wrongdoing that has put this institution in a sour light. Those responsible for me have displayed nothing but the highest honor for this establishment.


Read more: http://www.salon.com/2017/01/23/south-dakota-lawmaker-resigns-over-sex-with-interns/

[The Polack MSgt]

1. As I scanned the latest threads page, I misread the title on this OP

I had to blink and do a double take.

I thought it read "South Dakota lawmaker resigns over sex with kittens"

... and I thought " that figures"

[HoneyBadger]

2. The legislator is a bit freaky looking

http://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Watch-Rep-Wollmann-first-full-interview-about-intern-relationships--411151545.html

[HoneyBadger]

3. South Dakota lawmakers have blocked a proposed rule that would have banned this

South Dakota lawmakers have blocked a proposed rule that would have banned sexual contact between legislators and their young interns and pages.

State Sen. Stace Nelson (R), who sponsored the proposed ban, told fellow legislators the rule is necessary to prevent a repeat of an ugly incident from 2007, when a member of the state Senate was censured after being accused of fondling an intern.

“There’s been events in history that indicate these rules should have been put in stone and they haven’t,” Nelson told the Joint Committee on Legislative Procedure, according to the Argus Leader. “This is a rule we brought forth to address this so that there is no gray area.”


Those who voted against the proposal said inappropriate sexual advances are already banned under state rules. The committee voted to defer the proposal for more than a month, a step that effectively kills the idea.
“I’m hesitant to pass something when we get into itemizing every potential wrongdoing that a legislator could commit, lest this become a criminal code rather than a code of ethics,” said state Rep. David Lust (R), a member of the committee.

South Dakota lawmakers are also engaged in an effort to block a package of ethics reforms approved by voters in November. A state judge has blocked the law, saying it violated South Dakota’s constitution.

The package of reforms includes provisions giving citizens public financing vouchers, creating an ethics commission and preventing outgoing legislators from lobbying their former colleagues for two years after they leave office. Several legislative leaders sued to block the law after it passed with almost 52 percent of the vote.

[xor]

4. He looks like he's in his 40's...

Maybe 30's. Doesn't he?