Crow Wing County attorney continues campaign probe

Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan met Thursday with DFL Crow Wing County Chair Steve Barrows as part of an investigation into unfair campaign charges against the Senate (Republican) Victory Fund.

The charges involve the District 12 race between Sen. Don Samuelson, DFL-Brainerd, and the winner, Paul Koering of the Fort Ripley area.

Ryan said his investigation will continue and he will meet with representatives of the group that is accused of distributing materials that misrepresented Samuelson's positions on abortion-related issues. Ryan said he couldn't predict when his investigation would reach a point where he would be able to make a decision on whether there is probable cause in the case.

If there is no probable cause, he said last month, the matter would be dropped. If there is probable cause he could charge it out as a misdemeanor violation or submit it to a grand jury.

The Senate (Republican) Victory Fund operated independently of the Koering campaign. Ryan said earlier his investigation will have no bearing on the election of Koering, who will be sworn in as a state senator Tuesday.