Duluth lawmaker at center of sex scandal released from hospital

DFL State Rep. Kerry Gauthier was hospitalized with breathing difficulty last week, soon after acknowledging to police he'd had a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy at a highway rest stop near Duluth. Gauthier and the teen say the sex was consensual and the boy lied about his age. The St. Louis County attorney decided against prosecuting Gauthier, but a fellow DFLer has started a write-in campaign for his legislative seat.

Author:
BMTN Staff
Updated:
Mar 8, 2018
Original:
Aug 19, 2012

DFL State Rep. Kerry Gauthier was hospitalized with breathing difficulty last week, soon after acknowledging to police he'd had a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy at a highway rest stop near Duluth. Gauthier and the teen say the sex was consensual and the boy lied about his age. The St. Louis County attorney decided against prosecuting Gauthier, but a fellow DFLer has started a write-in campaign for his legislative seat.

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The 17-year-old was identified Friday.

Disgraced Democratic state Rep. Kerry Gauthier escaped any action for his removal at the Republican-controlled Minnesota House as Friday's special session keyed in specifically on flood relief. GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers called Gauthier's sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy at a rest stop "egregious" and still called for the Duluth lawmaker's resignation. Gauthier skipped Friday's session.

Minnesota Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) called Friday for the resignation of state Rep. Kerry Gauthier (D-Duluth) following the revelations of a sexual encounter last month between Gauthier and a 17-year-old boy. Authorities said Thursday that no charges would be filed in the incident, since the sex was consensual sex and no money was exchanged.

Duluth City Council member Jay Fosle is looking to take state DFL Rep. Kerry Gauthier's place in the the state house. Fosle entered his name as a write-in DFL candidate after Republican leaders called for Gauthier's resignation after the rep's alleged sexual tryst with a 17-year-old boy at a rest stop. Gauthier is seeking his second term as a state representative in House District 7B in November's General Election.

The St. Louis County Attorney's office tells the Duluth News Tribune state Rep. Kerry Gauthier will not face charges after "suspicious activity" last month at the Thompson Hill rest stop along Interstate 35 involving a 17-year-old boy. According to police records released Thursday, Gauthier admitted he met the teen through Craigslist. Both parties told investigators that the sex was consensual and that no money was exchanged. The 17-year-old also told police that he told Gauthier he was 18.

A write-in candidate for House district 7B in Duluth is being accused of abandoning his daughter 18 years ago. His estranged daughter reached out to the local newspaper claiming his actions are no better than those made by Rep. Kerry Gauthier. Gauthier recently dropped his bid for reelection after admitting to engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old boy at a Duluth rest stop.

Law enforcement officials tell the Duluth News Tribune police are looking into an incident at the Thompson Hill rest area off Interstate 35 near Proctor last month involving state Rep. Kerry Gauthier. A State Patrol officer made contact with the DFLer from Duluth after a witness reported suspicious activity, but details aren't being released because it is "part of an active investigation and classified as criminal investigative data," State Patrol spokesman Lt. Eric Roeske said.

A Duluth school bus driver is hospitalized in critical condition after the vehicle filled with kids plowed through yards, uprooted trees and narrowly missed two homes. None of the 27 elementary school student on board was seriously injured. Emergency responders found the driver outside the bus having difficulty breathing.

Leaders of his own party are calling on Duluth Rep. Kerry Gauthier to give up his re-election bid. DFL Party Chair Ken Martin and House Minority Leader Paul Thissen expressed disappointment with Gauthier, who acknowledged a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy at a highway rest stop last week. Meanwhile, a second Duluth DFLer announced a write-in campaign for Gauthier's House seat.

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