KVRR Local News
February 19, 2021
The reimbursements would have only applied if a criminal probe did not result in a conviction.
The legislation would have reimbursed former Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer and former Commerce Senior Manager Holly Holt, as well as three North Dakota State College of Science leaders, including President John Richman.
The five officials submitted claims for reimbursement after criminal probes launched in the wake of critical audit findings that the state auditor forwarded for investigation.
No criminal charges resulted.
Among them is a former official in Gov. Doug Burgum s Cabinet.
Sen. Curt Kreun, R-Grand Forks, introduced Senate Bill 2322 on Monday to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill would reimburse state employee claims for wrongful criminal investigation or prosecution related to their work in the last two years and going forward. Reimbursement would apply if a criminal probe did not result in a conviction. We were all an audience to a situation that necessitated this legislation, Kreun said, referring to the audit of the state s Commerce Department being referred for criminal investigation but resulting in no charges.
The bill would reimburse former Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer and former Commerce Senior Manager Holly Holt, as well as three North Dakota State College of Science leaders, including President John Richman. Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, is a bill co-sponsor and has criticized how State Auditor Josh Gallion handled those audit findings.
Bill would reimburse lawyer fees resulting from audit
February 2, 2021 GMT
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) A bill is set for a hearing before a North Dakota House committee this week that would reimburse attorney fees for several officials who were caught up in criminal investigations resulting from 2019 state audits.
The legislation would reimburse former Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer and former Commerce Senior Manager Holly Holt, as well as three North Dakota State College of Science leaders, including President John Richman.
The bill would reimburse “state employee claims for wrongful criminal investigation or prosecution” related to their work in the last two years and in the future. Reimbursement would apply if a criminal probe did not result in a conviction. The cost of reimbursement is about $48,000, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
The resolution approved Tuesday by Walton commissioners does not mention the renewed legislative push by Rubio and Scott, which Rubio contends is needed to ensure that any potential repeal of Trump s executive order doesn t eliminate the extension of the moratorium.
Broadly, the moratorium is seen as critical to protecting both the tourism industry along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and the operations of the Gulf Test Range, a military test range overseen by Eglin Air Force Base s 96th Test Wing that covers 120,000 square miles of the eastern Gulf.
The resolution approved by Walton commissioners Tuesday is effusive in its praise for the former president, for whom Gaetz continues to be a persistent champion. At one point, the resolution notes that Trump reoriented America’s foreign policy towards a brighter and more America First future, and it closes with the sentence, God bless President Trump.