Less than a year ago Al Franken apologized for sexual harassment and resigned. By not contesting the allegations through a long investigation Minnesota’s governor was able to promptly appoint a replacement, Minnesota remained represented in the Senate, and the Democratic Farmer Labor party (DFL) and Minnesota’s voters get to affirm or reject the Governor’s appointee in the November elections. In the same period four Minnesota legislators have been accused of sexual harassment, two resigned and gave the voters their right to choose their replacements. A third, Rep. Jim Knoblach, just ending his re-election campaign after stringing along his party through most of a six figure campaign only after the MSM was about to run the story of his alleged sexual abuse of his daughter. All four of these men have other careers they can fall back on so none will starve, and by resigning they have allowed their victims and their own healing to begin.
But what of the fourth legislator, Rod Hamilton? His accuser is credible and the legislative investigation is proceeding, but none the less Rod filed for another term he may be unable to complete. That’s just the beginning of the threats to Rod’s political future- His “day job” as far as we know is in Human Resources at Christensen Farms, which recently got an uninvited visit from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents bearing warrants and accusing Rod’s employer of knowingly hiring and cheating undocumented workers. Hard to believe that Rod wasn’t aware of that corporate crime, unless maybe Rod has a “no show” job at Christensen Farms and his real job is lobbying for them while chair of a legislative ag committee, a whole ‘nother offense altogether…
No wonder Rod is loudly complaining of all the pain he’s in. Rod, take a tip- I share your MS diagnosis and two decades ago working stress filled 15 hour days in the hell that was Hostess Brands forced me to use a wheelchair too. And not long after I left and started sleeping nights the wheelchair was replaced with a cane, and for the last few years that cane’s been folded up in my handbag, pretty much unused.
So let go Rod, and let the voters elect a rep who can serve them for a whole term. Apologize for what you did wrong, and if you really support immigrants like you say be a good citizen and bear witness to how your employer treated undocumented immigrant workers.
Rod, let it go and let the healing begin.