Michael Brodkorb

Michael Brodkorb
Deputy Chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota
In office
2009–2011
Personal details
Political party Republican
Residence Eagan, Minnesota
Occupation Campaign Strategist and Communications Consultant

Michael Brodkorb is a Minnesota Republican activist, a former deputy chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota, former communications director for the Republican caucus in the Minnesota Senate, under Senator Minority Leader David Senjem and later to Amy Koch when she was the majority leader of the state senate,[1] and the creator of the blog Minnesota Democrats Exposed.[2] In his role as an aide to Senjem and Koch, he is credited with helping to engineer the Republican takeover of the state senate in 2010.[3] He and Koch were described as "the two most powerful people in the Minnesota Senate."[4]

Brodkorb served as deputy chair of the Minnesota Republican Party from 2009 to 2011, when he resigned to work for the congressional campaign of Minnesota state senator Mike Parry. Brodkorb abruptly resigned both from his position in the Senate and his position with the Parry campaign in December 2011.[5]

Weeks later, Koch resigned her post as Majority Leader after admitting an "inappropriate relationship" with a male staffer. Brodkorb was fired the next day.[6][7]

Brodkorb has announced his intention to file litigation again the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Senate and Secretary of the Senate Cal Ludeman over his termination from the Minnesota Senate.[8] Lawyers representing Brodkorb have announced additional claims against the State of Minnesota, the Minnesota Senate and Ludeman over allegations that Ludeman disclosed private unemployment data about Brodkorb in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio.[9] Brodkorb's attorneys also announced plans to sue for defamation per se over statements Ludeman made in a press release where he accused Brodkorb of attempting to "extort payment from the Senate."[10]

On May 25, 2012, the Minnesota Senate released legal bills showing they had spent $46,150 to the first 3 months of 2012 to prepare a defense to Brodkorb's suit.[11] An analysis of the bill by the Associated Press showed the bulk of the $46,150 owed was due to attorneys retained by the Minnesota Senate repeatedly meeting with Ludeman.[12]

On June 19, 2012, the Minnesota Senate announced additional legal bills in the amount of $38,533, bringing the total legal costs incurred by the Minnesota Senate due to the termination of Brodkorb to almost $85,000 since the end of the May 2012.[13]

A court dismissed a libel suit against Brodkorb and his blog in 2007 in a case that was described as "breaking new legal ground in the world of blogging".[14]

He graduated from high school in Forest Lake, Minnesota in 1992.[15] He attended both the University of Minnesota Duluth and the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.[3]

On January 23, 2013, Brodkorb was injured in a single-car crash on Interstate 35E when his vehicle hit a concrete wall.[16] He pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Brodkorb out of the Minnesota Senate", Star-Tribune, December 16, 2011
  2. ↑ MN GOP deputy chair steps down, ThisWeekLive, November 11, 2011
  3. 1 2 "The fall of Michael Brodkorb", Star-Tribune, December 23, 2011
  4. ↑ "Stadium politics played role in Koch and Brodkorb dismissal, insiders say", Minnesota Post, December 21, 2011
  5. ↑ Brodkorb no longer with the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota Public Radio, December 16, 2011
  6. ↑ "Brodkorb out of the state senate". Minneapolis Star Tribune. December 16, 2011.
  7. ↑ Paul Demko (March 15, 2012). "Brodkorb's attorneys threaten to expose other affairs between senators and staffers". Politics in Minnesota.
  8. ↑ Stassen-Berger, Rachel (March 15, 2012). "Brodkorb: Other staffers who had affairs treated differently". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ Richert, Catherine (April 13, 2012). "Brodkorb planning to add claim of invasion of privacy to lawsuit". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  10. ↑ Stassen-Berger, Rachel (April 6, 2012). "Brodkorb warns Senate he plans to sue for $500,000". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  11. ↑ Lohn, Martiga (May 25, 2012). "State's costs in possible Brodkorb suit mount". Associated Press. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  12. ↑ Lohn, Martiga (April 6, 2012). "State's costs in possible Brodkorb suit mount". Associated Press. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  13. ↑ Lohn, Martiga (June 19, 2012). "Minn. Senate legal bill jumps to $84K in Brodkorb case". Associated Press. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Libel suit dismissed against blogger", Star-Tribune, March 10, 2007
  15. ↑ Riese, Clint; Budig, T.W. (January 25, 2013). "Brodkorb injured in one-car crash Wednesday". Forest Lake Times.
  16. ↑ Walsh, Paul; Harlow, Tim (January 24, 2013). "Ex-Senate staffer Brodkorb badly hurt in car crash on 35E". Star Tribune.
  17. ↑ Pages, March 19, 2012: "Michael Brodkorb created a hostile work environment, Republican senator says" by Gary Prattpleads-guilty-to-DWI-charge "Brodkorb pleads guilty to DWI charge"
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