Panel to consider Senate sex scandal attorney bill

ST. PAUL - A Minnesota Senate committee will consider an $84,683.50 attorney bill dealing with a scandal that forced the former majority leader to resign.

The Senate Rules Committee will be asked today to approve the bill for attorneys hired to prepare for a former Senate worker's lawsuit that has yet to be filed. Michael Brodkorb has said he will file a federal gender discrimination lawsuit.

The Senate fired Brodkorb after Sen. Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, resigned her leadership position last December. It was revealed earlier this year the two had an affair.

Brodkorb has filed court paperwork indicating he plans to base a suit on the fact that women Senate employees were not fired after having affairs with male senators. Republican Senate leaders say that since Brodkorb worked for Koch, his job ended when she left as leader.

The Senate hired a private law firm, charging $330 an hour, to deal with the situation. A bill released Tuesday shows that the lawyers billed for such things as discussions with Brodkorb's lawyers and Senate staff attorney Tom Bottern.

The two private lawyers have worked nearly 115 hours on the case, the invoice shows.