Lawmaker questions police action during Gauthier investigation

An Andover lawmaker is questioning whether Duluth police broke the law by not providing public information during the investigation into Rep. Kerry Gauthier after he was involved in sexual conduct with a 17-year-old boy at a rest stop.

Author:: BMTN Staff
Publish date:: Aug 25, 2012

An Andover lawmaker is questioning whether Duluth police broke the law during the investigation into Rep. Kerry Gauthier.

The Star Tribune reports Rep Peggy Scott, R-Andover, is accusing the department of not releasing public data after Gauthier was caught at rest stop with a 17-year-old boy.

In a letter this week, Scott claims police failed to release the public details of the case after at least two requests, a clear violation of the Minnesota Data Practices Act.

Duluth police tells the Duluth News Tribune the case was categorized as "high-profile," meaning that only a few officers could have access to the information.

Gauthier dropped his re-election bid Wednesday after pressure from party leaders.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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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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