Midwest
North Dakota lawmaker hit with misdemeanor charge in speculation case
- Republican North Dakota state Rep. Jason Dockter has been charged with a misdemeanor over a state-owned building owned by companies he’s tied to.
- While vague, the complaint alleges Dockter voted “on legislative bills appropriating money to pay for property he had acquired a pecuniary interest in.”
- Dockter has pleaded not guilty in the case, and is scheduled to be tried on May 3.
A North Dakota lawmaker faces a misdemeanor charge in connection with a state-leased building he has ownership ties to.
Republican state Rep. Jason Dockter, of Bismarck, was charged last month with speculating or wagering on official action. While the complaint offers few details, it says Dockter broke the law by “voting on legislative bills appropriating money to pay for property he had acquired a pecuniary interest in” and cites testimony from the state Ethics Commission’s executive director.
Prosecutor Ladd Erickson confirmed the charge involves a building leased in 2020 under the late attorney general, Wayne Stenehjem.
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Dockter is a co-owner of companies that own and renovated the building, which was leased by the attorney general’s office to house divisions of the office. Dockter was friends with Stenehjem, but has said the relationship was not a factor in arranging the lease.
The building incurred a construction cost overrun of over $1 million under Stenehjem, who died in January 2022. Current Attorney General Drew Wrigley disclosed the cost overrun, which was covered by various attorney general funds, in June 2022 — shocking lawmakers, who raised concerns about trust and how the building project was handled.
Republican North Dakota state Rep. Jason Dockter chairs a legislative meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Jack Dura, File)
Soon afterward, records requests from the media revealed that Stenehjem’s assistant had directed the deletion of his state government email account days after his death, as well as that of his chief deputy after he resigned months later.
Those deletions added to the public uproar and Stenehjem’s assistant resigned around the time reporters found out.
Wrigley has said his office recouped about $625,000 after reconciling the initial estimate of the overrun with the building owner, but it’s unclear what the final number is.
Wrigley said his office has provided “every bit of information that is available to us and will continue to do the same up ahead. Like everyone else, we await the results of the process playing out.”
The controversy led to new leasing transparency and email retention laws by the Legislature, and also probes by North Dakota’s state auditor and a Montana investigator.
Dockter, who has served in the North Dakota House since 2012 and was reelected in 2022, declined to comment on the charge. A woman who answered the phone at Dockter’s attorney’s office said his attorney is also not commenting on the case.
Dockter has pleaded not guilty in the case and is scheduled for a jury trial on May 3.
The misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of nearly a year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.
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RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes will try to extend their point streak to a dozen games on Saturday, when they go head-to-head with the Detroit Red Wings.
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When: Saturday, February 28
Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. ET
Watch: FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network App | Learn More
Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App
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Canes Record: 37-15-6 (80 Points, 1st – Metropolitan Division)
Canes Last Game: 5-4 Win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, Feb. 26
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Red Wings Record: 34-19-6 (74 Points, T-2nd – Atlantic Division)
Red Wings Last Game: 2-1 Win (OT) over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, Feb. 26
MILWAUKEE – Landmark Credit Union Live, Milwaukee’s newest concert venue, opened its doors on Friday. And with the Bucks playing next door at the same time, the whole area was hopping.
What they’re saying:
Fans flocked to Fiserv Forum to watch the team play the New York Knicks, and music lovers stood in line to see Rainbow Kitten Surprise on the opening night of Landmark Credit Union Live.
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“Very busy, very crowded the bars and restaurants,” said Ashley Evans. “That’d be great to add to the city again, to continue to bring more tourists out.”
“This is going to be amazing. I’ve been wanting to see them for a very long time, so I’m very excited,” said Rachel Lococo.
Fans line up for the official opening of Landmark Credit Union Live
Landmark Credit Union Live can host up to 4,500 people. Friday night’s show was sold out, drawing fans from places like Chicago, Minnesota, Iowa and elsewhere.
“Some people have driven from Indiana, so there’s a lot of people coming out tonight,” said Kade McCane, who came from Madison. “Honestly, really exciting to be among the first people who get to be there, and for RKS to be among the first people who will ever perform here, I hope this venue gets huge and big and becomes very popular.”
The excitement was felt all around Milwaukee. Even the competition rolled out the welcome mat.
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“Our goal to grow as a city means that a lot of things have to happen. This is the very, tiny, small work that has to happen,” said Gary Witt, president and CEO of The Pabst Theater Group, which runs six nearby venues.
“The introduction of any new business in the city, especially one that pays attention to the fact that we have spent 24 years growing the live culture economy in the city of Milwaukee, says to me that we’ve done our job.”
Witt said live entertainment is an industry Milwaukee’s economy has been dependent on coming from visitors like those who turned out Friday.
The Source: FOX6 News interviewed the people in this story and referenced prior coverage related to the opening of Landmark Credit Union Live.
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