ST. PAUL -- Senate Republican leaders filed an ethics complaint against Majority Leader Dean Johnson on Wednesday, saying he "repeatedly lied or misled" Minnesotans about whether he talked to Supreme Court justices on a controversial gay marriage issue.
The GOP senators say Johnson's comments violated Senate rules that require members to "adhere to the highest standard of ethical conduct." They say he also broke rules that require senators to follow "accepted norms of Senate behavior" and forbids action that "betrays the public trust or that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor or disrepute."
The charges came a week after the Minnesota for Marriage organization released a tape recording of Johnson, DFL-Willmar, saying he had assurances from Supreme Court justices that they would not overturn an existing state law banning gay marriages.
In the days following the tape's release, Johnson backed off the comments until Friday he said he had one brief conversation with one justice on the issue. Chief Justice Russell Anderson on Monday strongly denied any justice, or former Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz, ever talked to Johnson on the matter, much less gave him assurances that the law would stand.
Since Friday, Johnson repeatedly has refused to directly talk about his comment.
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"We feel the credibility of the Senate has been impaired," Sen. Mike McGinn, R-Eagan, said.
McGinn and five other GOP leaders filed the ethics complaint Wednesday, just the third such complaint filed in the Senate in a decade.
Sen. Claire Robling of Jordan and McGinn, the two who took the lead in filing the complaint, said they have no specific discipline in mind. They said they just want a further investigation into Johnson's comments. The pair also said all Republican senators back the complaint.
McGinn suggested that Johnson step aside as Senate leader until the investigation is finished. But in an evening session with a few Capitol reporters, Johnson said: "That's not going to happen."
Johnson said he will not step aside and that the ethics complaint will not affect his leadership, nor will it affect the Senate's work.
The leader called the ethics dispute "a political skirmish."
"The ethics complaint filed against me today is being taken seriously," Johnson said earlier. "We have a process in place in the Minnesota Senate, which I respect. I intend to let the process work."
The Ethics Committee - with two DFLers and two Republicans - has 30 days to complete the investigation or to vote to take more time.
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On Monday, Senate DFLers gave Johnson their unanimous support, and two standing ovations.
The controversy comes during a week when gay marriage is a highlighted topic. About 1,000 people rallied Tuesday in favor of a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriages. Today, those opposed to the amendment will visit the Capitol.
Amendment supporters say Johnson and other DFL leaders have blocked a Senate vote on the issue. Johnson says the issue will have a committee hearing soon, but he doubts the amendment could pass the full Senate.
Johnson's comment about receiving assurances that justices would not take up the existing anti-gay marriage law apparently were designed to convince New London-Spicer ministers to whom he was talking that the constitutional amendment was not needed.
Robling said Republicans are not taking their ethics action for political reasons.
"We need to hold members to a high standard," she said. "This doesn't bring me any joy."
