Senate’s Brodkorb legal bill hits six figures

Disaster relief won't be the only issue state lawmakers address Friday when they return to St. Paul for a special session.

The Minnesota Senate has nearly $18,000 in new legal bills to pay.

The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration is scheduled to meet after the session to discuss legal costs rung up in June and July related to last year's firing of former Republican caucus staffer Michael Brodkorb, who was having an affair with then-Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch. Brodkorb filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against the Senate in July after failing to reach a settlement. He claims he was treated differently than women involved in similar relationships.

Rules committee members met back in June to approve the payment of two previous invoices totally nearly $85,000 from the Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren firm. That means the total bill now tops $100,000.

Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said the costs are necessary to protect taxpayers.

"We're going to stand strong on that and defend our position," Senjem said.

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