(The Center Square) – Minnesota House Republicans and Democrats have filed competing ethics complaints against members of the opposing party as lawmakers enter the final stretch of this year’s legislative session.
A complaint filed by House Democrats targets Rep. Elliott Engen, R-Lino Lakes, and Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, alleging the two left a scheduled committee meeting to drink at a St. Paul bar.
Meanwhile, House Republicans filed a complaint against Rep. Alex Falconer, DFL-Eden Prairie, over his outside employment and potential conflicts of interest.
Under House rules, ethics complaints “may be brought about conduct by a member that violates a rule or administrative policy of the House, that violates accepted norms of House behavior, that betrays the public trust, or that tends to bring the House into dishonor or disrepute.”
Complaints are then referred to the House Ethics Committee, which investigates and may recommend action to the speaker before adjournment.
According to Democrats, the two Republican lawmakers – then members of the House Education Finance Committee – were photographed at a bar around 2:30 p.m. on March 26 while the committee was meeting to discuss a school attendance bill. They later returned for a floor session.
Engen was arrested around 2 a.m. the following day in White Bear Lake and charged with driving while intoxicated. Hudson was a passenger in the vehicle and was carrying a firearm with a permit.
While no test was conducted to determine Hudson’s level of intoxication, Minnesota law prohibits permit holders from carrying a firearm with a blood alcohol content above 0.04%.
House DFL Floor Leader Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, and Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura, DFL-Minneapolis, filed the complaint.
“Reps. Engen and Hudson violated the public’s trust, and this type of behavior has no place in the Capitol,” Long said in a statement. “There has to be accountability for their actions that goes beyond removing them from committees. They left committee halfway through to go drink, choosing to let down their colleagues and constituents.”
Engen and Hudson have already been removed from their committee assignments following the incident.
Republicans pushed back, noting past incidents involving DFL lawmakers.
Reps. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud, and Brion Curran, DFL-White Bear Lake, both pleaded guilty to drunken driving charges in 2023, though those incidents occurred outside of session and neither lawmaker was removed from committees.
The GOP complaint against Falconer revolves around his prior and current employment with environmental advocacy organizations.
Republicans allege Falconer lobbied for Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness in 2024 and currently works as a federal government relations manager for Save the Boundary Waters, while continuing to sponsor legislation supported by those groups.
Rep. Isaac Schultz, R-Elmdale Township, said Falconer’s economic interest statement lists his work with Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness but does not mention his position with Save the Boundary Waters.
“He was employed as a lobbyist until days before he took the oath of office, swapped his job title, and continues to push legislation supported by the very people who are signing his paycheck,” Schultz said in a statement.
Schultz was joined in filing the ethics complaint by Rep. Spencer Igo, R-Wabana Township. They further argue Falconer has introduced multiple bills aligned with the policy goals of those organizations, including measures that have been the subject of direct lobbying efforts.
Falconer defended his actions, saying his work complies with House rules.
“My legislative work on this issue was vetted with nonpartisan House experts. It’s all above board,” Falconer said in a statement. “This is simply a desperate attempt to deflect from clearly unethical conduct from Reps. Hudson and Engen. Why else would they bring this up now, when I’ve been working on these bills since I was seated?”
Both complaints now head to the evenly divided House Ethics Committee, where any disciplinary recommendations would require bipartisan agreement.
The Center Square did not receive a response from Minnesota House Republicans or Rep. Falconer’s office regarding questions about these complaints.
