MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A fired Minnesota Senate GOP staffer is threatening to expose adulterous affairs by other legislators as part of a potential lawsuit over his firing, according to a document made public Thursday.
Michael Brodkorb's legal strategy was laid out in a "notice of claims" document his attorneys filed with the state Tuesday. He was fired in December over an affair with his boss, then-Majority Leader Amy Koch.
In the document, attorney Philip Villaume wrote that Brodkorb is the victim of gender discrimination because female staffers who've had affairs with male legislators weren't fired.
"He intends to depose all of the female legislative staff employees who participated in intimate relationships, as well as the legislators who were party to those intimate relationships, in support of his claims of gender discrimination," the notice said.
The notice did not say how many female staffers Brodkorb believes had affairs with male legislators.
Brodkorb is demanding more than $500,000 in damages, the notice said. It also threatens invasion-of-privacy claims against three former members of the Senate GOP leadership and a current and former Senate staffer.
Talks broke down Tuesday between Brodkorb's attorneys and Senate officials for sending the dispute over his dismissal to mediation.
Koch abruptly resigned her leadership position in December. Brodkorb was fired one day later without a public explanation. She later acknowledged she had had an improper relationship with a staffer, but wouldn't reveal his identity, which went unconfirmed until Villaume acknowledged Wednesday that it was Brodkorb.
Koch was in her first term as majority leader but was regarded as a rising star in the party. Brodkorb was paid more than $90,000 a year for serving as her executive assistant and as the Senate GOP's communications director, where he was known as an aggressive and effective spokesman.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Comments (18)
Add commentdo tell, Mike!
Just what we need during campaign season.
For sure and,
I bet they aren't all GOPers.
Going by the 'family values' meme,
there shouldn't be any GOP'ers. Hypocrites.
Hypocrites- like the gay supporters who want everyone to
practice tolerance and acceptance while exhibiting none themselves? I so agree chey!
pdnet, your line is getting tired
I realize it makes sense to you since you watch Fox "news" and they reinforce your bigoted views on a daily basis, but let's put this into true perspective:
Those who advocate for allowing same sex marriage ARE the tolerant ones on that issue, there is no question about that because they are NOT saying heterosexual marriage should be banned. If they were, you might have a point, but as yet I have never met such a fool. You and your ilk, however, seemingly wish to control and limit the freedoms of others. That in NO WAY is a tolerant position.
If it seems liberals (and free thinking conservatives) aren't tolerant of your desire to control and restrict the freedom of others, that alone does not make them 'hypocrites'. Surely you don't suggest we should all be tolerant and accepting of those who insist the earth is flat, when all evidence suggests it is not?
In that same vein, when your flawed-logic positions are rejected by those with half a brain cell, it is not an example of intolerance, it is a display of intelligence.
You are free to enter into a heterosexual marriage at any point, and no one is attempting to take that right away from you. If they were, I'd be your biggest supporter in fighting that good fight.
Who has dragged the gays
into this subject? GG, if you are infatuated with them go to a thread that is about them.
I don't want
him to go away until he names the DFLers that are involved in the same behavior eyolf. I want to see all you libs attack them the way you did Ms. Koch. I won't hold my breath.
P.S.
For those of you worried that the Dispatch is turning to the right, don't. This story left the line out where he said that there ARE DFLers doing the hanky-panky with their staff. The DFLers are the ones negotiating with him to cover the whole deal up. Imagine that! I'll update this tomorrow because minnesnoda/lake wouldn't ever do that when a liberal sleeps around.
FnB, are you serious?
And I quote:
"Hypocrites- like the gay supporters who want everyone to
By pdnet15 | 03/15/12 - 07:39 pm
practice tolerance and acceptance while exhibiting none themselves?"
You'll note my response to pdnet15 was an hour later. I do completely agree with you though, that issue being brought up on this story makes absolutely no sense. Probably what drove me to the point of calling him out on it, seems it comes up on way too many nonrelated stories.
My only 'infatuation' here is for truth and honesty to become part of public discord again. I believe that's in the best interests of our community, our country and the world in general.
Wow I watch Fox even though I don't have a tv
I didn't realize georgegalt that you have been to my house. I could not imagine me lowering myself to that point. And as for marriage, I had 24 years until I lost my wife to cancer. Something that is rare for homosexuals because of there promisuous behavior. But thank you for reinforcing the fact that I said that hipocrisy lays at the feet of the liberals, when in your second sentence, you used the word bigoted. Your logic is not flawed, it is just not there.
Please don't misunderstand me kind sir
I'm truly sorry for your loss. I mean you no harm and surely don't mean to seemingly call you a name, I was referring to your comment prior. I'm certainly not intolerant of your choice of who you wanted to marry, I'm sure she was a wonderful woman- I said I would defend your ability to marry the way you see fit just as strongly, to each to their own. It is a free country, isn't it?
With your statement: "gay supporters who want everyone to practice tolerance and acceptance..", and gays seemingly not attacking heterosexual marriage, particularly in this story or any of the comments prior, many people are left to assume the term "bigoted" kind of applied. It certainly sounds like you have a strong and adverse opinion toward those American adults inclined (for whatever reason) to a lifestyle unlike your own.
wiki the word "bigoted" and you'll find: "obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs."
Sweetly Ironic
That a person of Brodkorb's inarguable low moral character is now turning the tables on his former employer--and they don't like it!
This is really a pickle for the republicans. It would be for any employer, even if politics was not involved in any way.
There aren't many scenarios where the party doesn't come out losing in a big way on this one. Brodkorb's legal team knows the party does not want a public battle anywhere close to November. They either have to settle with him now, or risk dragging it out and then into the public arena at a highly inconvenient time for the party.
When you fire the subordinate employee involved in an extramarital affair--but retain the person they were involved with and that gave them orders--I mean in the employment sense--there's no spin or political move that allows them to get around that in a court of law.
All I am going to say
is Clinton and Edwards! Weren't they demoncrat?
Amazing
PD15- is everything about a person's political party for you? The only person who really knows the "score" is our God. Given what we know about human nature and power, I suspect that the list is long and contains members of both parties at all levels. (members of my church and members of your church, too)
My friend, Arlan Stangeland, fell prey to the sins you refer to, but he is still a good man. Sadly, the self righteous folks of the 7th district threw him out in favor of Colin Peterson, who is still there today.
PD, make politics about politics and let our lord do the judging. Why are you angry that others don't agree with your view on human rights? Perfection is a rare commodity among men. There are varying degrees of imperfection-
Loveanimals,
read above where all the liberals turned it into a political football. Sheesh....
Ah, but eyolf,
he's going to expose the DFLers so their public silence did them no good. The political footbal I referred to was: all the liberal posters on this forum trying to gloat and 1 up all the others. I am supprised that you didn't realize that.
- I also am supprised that you didn't read other papers that noted the DFL negotiatiions with him to not reveal the DFL transgressions of the same kind.