Dec 8, 2006 2:13 pm US/Central
House GOP Ousts Olson From Caucus
St. Paul (AP) ―
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The House GOP ousted Rep. Mark Olson from the caucus Thursday. (File)
Courtesy Sherburne County Sheriff's Dept.
Minnesota House Republicans are cutting ties with a fellow GOP legislator facing domestic abuse charges, a caucus leader said Friday.
Republicans voted Thursday to suspend seven-term Rep. Mark Olson of Big Lake from the caucus. It means they won't supply him with staff or other support services.
Olson is due in court on Tuesday in relation to his November arrest. According to a criminal complaint, Olson is accused of shoving his wife and leaving her with fresh bruises.
House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, said Olson wasn't present at the closed-door caucus nor did he have anyone there to represent him.
Messages left at Olson's home and office weren't immediately returned. He has said he won't give up his seat.
"Legislators are role models for the public and need to be held to high ethical standards," Seifert said. "It is getting close to the point of where he needs to acknowledge if this has happened or not, and not rationalize bad behavior if it has happened."
Some leading Republicans have said Olson should resign from the Legislature if he is convicted. He was recently elected to an eighth term.
Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty joined in the call Friday.
"If it turns out that he is found guilty or pleads guilty to the conduct alleged, it's just not appropriate for him to be serving in the Legislature," Pawlenty said.
House Speaker-elect Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said Democrats will respect the Republican decision on Olson.
"We will reserve further comment until the legal process has run its course," she added.
The House has the power to expel members, but it's usually reserved for extraordinary cases.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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