Staffer involved in Twitter altercation no longer employed by Senate

With MPR's Tom Scheck...

Bob Koss, a Senate Republican staffer who lobbed expletives at Republican state Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, last night over Twitter, is out of a job.

"Bob Koss is no longer an employee or employed by the Minnesota Senate," said Senate spokesman Steve Sviggum.

Sviggum would not say whether Koss had been fired or whether he had left voluntarily.

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The Star Tribune's Rachel Stassen-Berger documented the online altercation. It started when Koss wrote, "Just saw the @johnkriesel gay marriage ad. Really glad the RINO will be leaving the legislature. #mnleg & good riddance."

Kriesel decided months ago not to run for a second term. He was among a few Republicans who opposed a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman.

Kriesel, who lost both his legs fighting in Iraq, was recently featured in an ad created by a group that opposes the amendment.

In the ad, Kriesel said that it was his experience there that shaped his views about the amendment, which would effectively ban same-sex marriage.

Update: GOP Sen. Joe Gimse told Forum Communications that Koss was fired.

Update: It looks like Koss has deleted his Twitter account.