BISMARCK, ND – A jury in North Dakota on Friday convicted a state lawmaker of a misdemeanor related to a state-leased building with which he has ownership ties. A legislative leader said he disagrees with the ruling and plans to review the statute and rules involved.
Republican Rep. Jason Dockter of Bismarck It was charged in December 2023 with speculation or bets on official shares. He pleaded not guilty. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 360 days in jail and/or a $3,000 fine. Dockter declined to comment on the verdict but said he would consider an appeal. His sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
A criminal complaint alleged that as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, Dockter voted “for legislative bills that appropriate money to pay for properties in which he acquired a pecuniary interest,” contrary to law and legislative rules. The charge arose from complaints to the state Ethics Commission.
Republican House Majority Leader Mike Lefor said the case is concerning because “lawmakers will not be comfortable knowing what a conflict of interest is.”
“I’m thinking we need to go through the legislative rules, look at the state statutes, and have a careful conversation with the Ethics Commission so that we can be absolutely sure that legislators are not looking over their shoulders, worrying about whether this will get to the level a conflict of interest or not?” Lefor said.
He called it a “slippery slope” for scenarios in which a lawmaker who is a teacher votes on an education bill or a farmer votes on agricultural issues.
Prosecutor Ladd Erickson declined to comment on the verdict.
Dockter’s accusation is part of a nearly two-year controversy involving the building, rented by the late Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem to consolidate divisions of his office, which under Stenehjem incurred a cost saturation of over $1 million that has not been fully reconciled.
Stenehjem’s successor, Attorney General Drew Wrigley, revealed the hack and that Stenehjem’s state email account It was deleted days later your death in January 2022, under the direction of his executive assistant, Liz Brocker, who later resigned. A prosecutor refused to charge you for deleted emails.
Dockter is co-owner of companies that owned and worked on the building. He was a friend of Stenehjem, but denied any wrongdoing in the lease. Dockter was first elected in 2012. He was re-elected in 2022 unopposed.
Democratic House Minority Leader Zac Ista called on Dockter to resign following the verdict. Dockter said he has no immediate plans to do so. Lefor said he does not expect the Republican-majority House to take any immediate action against Dockter.
The Legislature is not in session and is not scheduled to meet until January 2025, following a December organizational session.
O cost saturation and deleted emails shocked state lawmakers, who raised concerns about trust and transparency. Earlier this year, the Wrigley office recovered thousands of emails from Stenehjem via a cell phone backup and released them in response to records requests. Stenehjem’s phone data became part of an investigation into former state senator Ray Holmberg, who is accused of traveling for the Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor. Holmberg’s trial is scheduled for September.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
