North Dakota’s longest-serving state senator, Ray Holmberg, resigned on Monday from the state Legislature after it was reported that he had exchanged text messages with a jailed man facing child pornography charges.
Holmberg, a 78-year-old grandfather of five who became one of the state’s most powerful lawmakers during his 46-year career, said he would resign effective June 1, noting that this will give GOP leaders in his district enough time to find his replacement.
“Recent news stories have become a distraction for the important work of the legislative assembly during its interim meetings,” Holmberg said in a statement announcing his resignation. “I want to do what I can, within my power, to lessen such distractions.”
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