Ethics panel scolds Chaudhary over fish flap
A Minnesota Senate ethics panel has reprimanded Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, for "violating the accepted norms of Senate behavior" and "threatening public confidence" in the Legislature.
But members of the bipartisan subcommittee found that Chaudhary did not have a conflict of interest when he pushed for new walleye regulations on a lake where he owns a cabin. During testimony under oath, Chaudhary argued that a conservation measure for a public body water benefits all Minnesotans. He also successfully convinced the panel to soften its proposed letter of reprimand, taking out the phrase "betrayed the public trust." Chaudhary said that phrase was inaccurate.
"There was no money here," Chaudhary said. "This was for a public benefit. This was brought by the community. And yes, it was done quickly. And perhaps what I'm guilty of is being over zealous for the environment. And I need to curb my enthusiasm."
But Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, said the end-of-session episode made the whole system look bad. Ingebrigtsen, one of two GOP members of the ethics panel, told Chaudhary that he should have known better after 14 years in the Legislature.
Sen. Linda Scheid, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said she was convinced that her colleague did not have a conflict of interest. But Scheid wanted the subcommittee to send a strong message about Chaudhary's behavior.
"I don't think Sen. Chaudhary has brought the Senate into dishonor or disrepute," Scheid said. "But I think that doing this amendment the way it was done does betray the public trust and makes people think there they go again. And that bothers me."
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