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Rep. Dotseth rejects calls for him to suspend campaign
Rep. Jeff Dotseth denied his ex-wife’s claims and pled guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.
ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota DFL leaders said it’s time for Rep. Jeffrey Dotseth to suspend his reelection campaign, citing a newspaper report that delved into past abuse allegations, asserting he fails to meet the standards of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
The first-term Republican from Kettle River has denied the abuse claims and noted he pled guilty only to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct.
The Minnesota Star Tribune Tuesday reported Dotseth was arrested and charged in 2008 with misdemeanor domestic assault after his wife Penny called police to say he had dragged her out of bed and pulled her across the floor of their home in Baldwin Township in Sherburne County.
KARE 11 obtained copies of the citation and court records from Sherburne County District Court and can confirm the citation and other details of the newspaper report, including the fact that Dotseth was subject to a protection order and temporarily barred from possessing firearms at the time.
“Dotseth’s behavior, whether it was yesterday or years ago, was unacceptable and not fitting for an elected representative of our state,” DFL House Majority Leader Jamie Long told reporters at a Minnesota State Capitol news conference.
“There was an order of protection against him with a prohibition on owning firearms, and a guilty plea to disorderly conduct. These are serious consequences for very troubling behavior.”
Dotseth’s ex-wife Penny laid out details of the arrest and alleged previous abuse in an affidavit filed as part of the couple’s divorce proceedings in 2008.
“I have been choked, punched, kicked, slapped, pinned down, smothered and had my hair pulled,” she wrote.
“In 1994, Jeff had slammed me up against the wall, he had pinned me to the wall and had all of his weight on me. I could not move my arms and he was choking me. The only thing I could do was spit in his face.”
She gave details of other alleged attacks, including one that ended when her son Brandon, who was 9 years old at the time, rescued her by throwing a plastic chair at Dotseth.
Brandon, Penny’s son from a previous marriage, also provided an affidavit as part of the divorce case, asserting, “I have been punched, slapped, choked, thrown, hit with things, and kicked by him.”
The divorce file also contains a sworn affidavit from Dotseth denying and disputing the abuse claims. He referred to himself as a non-violent person and said his wife was the person who instigated their arguments and abused him.
“I believe that Petitioner has anger management issues – she has spit in my face, thrown objects at me, frequently hit me and pulled my hair. When she becomes angry and gets violent, communication is difficult.”
Dotseth issued the following statement to KARE on Tuesday:
“More than 15 years ago I went through an extremely difficult divorce and child custody dispute. There were hurtful allegations made against me that I deny, including a sworn affidavit I filed under oath under penalty of perjury.
“Ultimately the charge was dismissed and I pled guilty to disorderly conduct. I now have a cordial relationship with my ex-wife and have worked to put this difficult chapter of my life behind me.”
DFL Party Chair Ken Martin said the House Republican Caucus should’ve done a better job of vetting Dotseth as a legislative candidate in 2022.
“The fact Representative Dotseth concealed this information from voters when he barely won his seat two years ago is outrageous,” Martin told reporters.
Martin said he had heard rumors about Dotseth’s past before the Star Tribune report but was not aware of the extent of the accusations by the lawmaker’s ex-wife and her son.
“What did the House GOP leadership know? When did they know it? And why did they say nothing with Jeff Dotseth was poised to become a state legislator?”
Rep. Lisa Demuth, the Republican House Minority Leader, issued the following statement in response to the DFL’s press conference:
“Domestic violence is an absolute red line for me — it’s never acceptable under any circumstances. This case was resolved through the legal process more than 15 years ago, concluding with no charge or conviction for domestic assault.
“I spoke with Rep. Dotseth and he reiterated the contents of what was in his affidavit denying the allegations that were made during the divorce proceedings.”
Chair Martin noted he was the first one to call for the resignation of Rep. John Thompson in 2021 when allegations of past domestic abuse by Thompson surfaced in older police reports. Thompson was never convicted of abuse and refused to resign from the legislature.
House DFL lawmakers voted to expel Thompson from their caucus, meaning he could not attend private strategy meetings with them. In his bid for reelection in 2022 he lost his primary to another Democrat.
Sergeant Tony Bryand spent 10 months in the Middle East, and never got to see his stepdaughter perform – until Saturday
CHANHASSEN, Minn. — Few things match the mystery of the theater, or the warmth that comes from the holidays. At the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, that warmth was easy to spot Saturday night.
Hundreds gathered to watch the musical White Christmas, but for one person, the show wasn’t the most important part of their evening.
It was who would be there.
“Me and her have had a really good bond since I’ve came into her life,” Sergeant Tony Bryand said.
Sgt. Bryand has been away on deployment in Kuwait for the last 10 months, returning home just in time for the holidays. On stage, his stepdaughter, nine-year-old Jenalia, plays Susan Waverly.
“Me being gone is a big change, really hard on her,” Sgt. Bryand said, choking up. “Hard on me.”
During the preshow announcement, emcee Nancy Nelson walked out, set to announce the start of the show.
Instead, she was interrupted by Jenalia.
“On behalf of the theater, Nancy, we would all like to thank you for all you do!” Jenalia said, surprising Nancy.
“You should have them, and I know someone who wants to give them to you, darling,” Nelson said in response. “Turn around!”
In front of the crowd, Jenalia turned and saw Sgt. Bryand, running into his arms, reuniting the two after months apart.
“He has not seen her on this stage, in this show, but he will tonight!” Nelson said while the two embraced.
Sgt. Bryand sat and watched his stepdaughter perform during the show, the nerves he had conquered, and now reunited for the holidays.
“Gonna give her a memory, gonna give us a memory that we’ll never forget,” he said.
The road conditions were snowy and icy when the crash occurred.
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. — One man was killed after his truck collided with another vehicle in Inver Grove Heights on Saturday afternoon, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The man was driving up the entrance ramp from Concord Boulevard to northbound Highway 52 when his truck lost control, said the state patrol.
His truck crossed over the northbound lanes of Highway 52 before colliding with another vehicle, said the state patrol.
The road conditions were snowy and icy when the crash occurred.
The state patrol identified the man who died as 74-year-old Willard Pohl of Inver Grove Heights.
The driver of the other vehicle and his five passengers, which included four children, were not injured in the crash.
The Red Bulls were deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield, where they played a role in strengthening defense relationships with partner nations.
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — The Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Infantry Division, known as the “Red Bulls,” has returned home after a 10-month deployment to the Middle East.
On Saturday, the second wave of over 550 Citizen-Soldiers reunited with their families at the division’s headquarters in Arden Hills.
This homecoming follows the first wave of soldiers who returned earlier this week, marking the end of a successful mission that began in February 2024.
The Red Bulls were deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield, where they played a role in strengthening defense relationships with partner nations.
During their deployment, the Red Bulls conducted numerous military-to-military exercises with partner nation forces in the region. They also modernized the division headquarters with top of the line communications equipment. Lieutenant Colonel Jay Hackett, the Infantry Battalion Commander, expressed pride in the unit’s focus and dedication throughout the mission.
“They really took care of the mission, and more importantly, they took care of each other,” Hackett said.
The scene at the Arden Hills headquarters was filled with emotion as families eagerly awaited their loved ones’ return. One soldier, medic Kacie Lou, was greeted with warm embraces from her parents and grandparents. When asked about her first desire upon returning home, she humorously replied, “I want to go eat some tacos.”
Another returning soldier described the surreal feeling of being back, stating, “It’s unexplainable. I feel like I’m in a dream, and I don’t think it’ll really set in until tomorrow morning when I wake up in my own bed.”
The Red Bulls’ return marks another chapter in the division’s rich history of service. With roots dating back to 1856, the Minnesota National Guard has consistently answered the nation’s call, with more than 13,000 Soldiers and Airmen serving across 58 communities in the state.
