World Courant
Former North Dakota state Sen. Ray Holmberg, who has been arrested beneath suspicion he repeatedly traveled to the Czech Republic with the intent to pay a minor for intercourse, reportedly used state funds to pay for at the very least three journeys to Prague.Holmberg, a 79-year-old Republican, can also be accused of receiving youngster pornography.Holmberg served within the North Dakota Legislature till his 2022 resignation over the allegations levied in opposition to him.
A former North Dakota legislator charged with touring to Prague with the intent of paying for intercourse with a minor used state funds to pay for at the very least three journeys to that metropolis and to different locations in Europe, in accordance with a gaggle that organized the journey.
Journey data from the North Dakota College Boards Affiliation present that former state senator Ray Holmberg used public funding for journeys in 2011, 2018 and 2019 to Prague within the Czech Republic and to different cities, together with Amsterdam and Berlin. The journeys have been organized by means of the Germany-based World Bridges instructor trade program, which obtained funding from the North Dakota Legislature.
A federal indictment unsealed Monday charged Holmberg with touring to Prague with the intent of paying for intercourse with a minor and likewise with receiving photos depicting youngster sexual abuse. Holmberg, 79, has pleaded not responsible.
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It’s unclear whether or not the alleged conduct occurred through the publicly funded journeys. However the indictment says Holmberg traveled to Prague “from on or about June 24, 2011, to on or about Nov. 1, 2016 … for the aim of participating in any illicit sexual conduct.” One of many journey data for the funded journeys lists a departure date of June 24, 2011, to Prague and different cities.
The North Dakota Legislature gave cash to the state Division of Public Instruction, which primarily handed it alongside to World Bridges to pay for journeys for lecturers and legislators.
State Rep. Bob Martinson mentioned he picked the legislators who went on the journeys, normally a mix of women and men, Home and Senate, Democratic and Republican for “a balanced group of people that have been excited by studying and would all get alongside collectively so it will not be a political journey.”
Holmberg “established a very good rapport with World Bridges, and so they preferred him, and so they requested that he go to these conferences. They wished him concerned,” Martinson mentioned.
His brother, former Affiliation Government Director Jon Martinson, was the challenge director and took part within the number of lecturers for the journeys. Holmberg traveled with lecturers twice and likewise on unbiased journeys the place he was invited to take part, resembling for a discussion board, annual assembly or symposium, mentioned Jon Martinson. He mentioned he did not know what number of journeys Holmberg took by means of this system.
The journeys are helpful for legislators due to the information they acquire on matters resembling vitality and worldwide relations, Jon Martinson mentioned.
FILE – North Dakota Sen. Ray Holmberg listens throughout a joint Home and Senate Appropriations Committee assembly on the Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., on Jan. 7, 2009. (AP Photograph/Will Kincaid, File)
Bob and Jon Martinson mentioned they did not know of what Holmberg is accused of doing in Prague.
Holmberg declined to reply questions from The Related Press.
“My lawyer tells me do not discuss to anybody as a result of I’ve acquired that legal factor, so I am following my legal professional’s recommendation,” Holmberg mentioned Wednesday.
Bob Martinson known as the allegations raised by the indictment “terribly unhappy.” Holmberg has been a good friend for over 40 years, he mentioned.
The state-paid journey was first reported by KFGO and The Discussion board of Fargo-Moorhead.
Gov. Doug Burgum’s spokesman, Mike Nowatzki, mentioned, “Talking broadly, (Burgum) finds such allegations involving youngsters disturbing and disgusting and believes perpetrators ought to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the legislation.”
Longtime Democratic state Sen. Tim Mathern mentioned he has “no objection to conferences and methods to teach our legislators about what is going on on on this planet, however actually the scrutiny must be a lot greater.” The Legislature might take “a fine-tooth comb going by means of our budgets,” present accountability resembling names of individuals “selling sure issues,” and revisit data retention, he mentioned.
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If Holmberg traveled on the state’s dime to commit the alleged conduct, “I’d say it was a misuse of {dollars},” Mathern mentioned. “I’ve no query that this was a misuse of tax {dollars}.” The scenario signifies “we as a system have to make some adjustments,” he mentioned.
Holmberg served over 45 years within the North Dakota Senate. He was a robust lawmaker, chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee, which writes budgets, and a prime legislative panel that handles legislative issues between biennial periods. He took dozens of state-funded journeys all through the U.S. and overseas within the final decade, in accordance with legislative journey data.
Holmberg resigned final 12 months after The Discussion board reported on his dozens of textual content messages exchanged with a person in jail on the time on prices associated to pictures of kid sexual abuse.
A state panel on Thursday voted unanimously to droop Holmberg’s lifetime instructing license, aspiring to revoke it instantly if he pleads responsible to or is convicted of any cost primarily based on the case’s underlying details, in accordance with the movement in assembly minutes.
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Holmberg, who’s retired, had a profession with Grand Forks Public Faculties from 1967 to 2002, together with years as a instructor, youngster discover coordinator and counselor.
ND politician accused of touring to Prague for intercourse with minor took taxpayer-funded journeys to metropolis: report
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