GOP STATE SENATOR GUILTY OF CORRUPTION
10/23/2006
ST. PAUL (10/23/06) – Republican state Sen. Michael Jungbauer was convicted Friday by a three-judge panel of converting taxpayer dollars for personal use. Jungbauer has a checkered history of ethical lapses. Jungbauer’s conviction, combined with the finding Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board’s strong ruling against him earlier last week, casts doubt on his future in the Minnesota Senate.
“Friday’s findings are troubling,” Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez said. “Senator Jungbauer’s history of poor judgment is unbecoming a Minnesota state senator. Coupled with the fines and penalties imposed on him earlier this week, we must question whether he has the integrity to keep serving in the Legislature. A serious inquiry needs to occur to determine if Senator Jungbauer has committed any other crimes that those he’s already been convicted of. There is certainly strong evidence to suggest he has.”
In 2004, Jungbauer committed a serious violation of Minnesota Senate rules of ethical conduct by using official Senate equipment for campaign purposes. He was forced to apologize to all of his constituents by letter. At the time, Jungbauer said he would use the incident as a “learning experience.”
“Apparently Senator Jungbauer learned nothing from being disciplined for his earlier ethical violations. Now he has graduated to criminal misconduct,” Melendez said.
Jungbauer found guilty. State Sen. Michael Jungbauer was found guilty of violating Minnesota statute 211B.12(7) for converting campaign funds for personal use. [Determination by the State Office of Administrative Hearings, 10/20/06]
Jungbauer denied accusations under oath during administrative hearing. Throughout his lengthy testimony, Jungbauer repeatedly denied many of the accusations being leveled at him in the complaint. [Office of Administrative Hearings testimony, 10/18/06]
Jungbauer admitted taking illegal corporate contribution. Jungbauer admitted his campaign accepted a $600 corporate campaign contribution. Corporate campaign contributions have been illegal under Minnesota law for nearly a century. The illegal contribution also exceeded the maximum contribution to a candidate’s committee allowed under state law. [Minnesota Campaign Finance Board Findings, 10/17/06]
Jungbauer’s campaign finance report falsely labeled a campaign expenditure. On September 17, 2006, the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board ruled that Jungbauer falsely labeled an expenditure relating to a fundraiser as “Aviation Insurance.” [Minnesota Campaign Finance Board Findings, 10/17/06]
Jungbauer received improper benefits that allowed him to hold a fundraiser without paying to rent the facility used for the fundraiser. The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board ruled that Jungbauer broke state law when he held a fundraiser in a highly-sought aviation museum with a vast collection of historic planes as a fundraiser venue without paying for it. Jungbauer also failed to report the facility’s use as an in-kind contribution. The museum is usually rented to the general public for a cost. [Minnesota Campaign Finance Board Findings, 10/17/06]
Jungbauer’s history of unethical conduct…
Jungbauer violated rules of ethical conduct by using state computers for campaign purposes. In 2004, Jungbauer violated Minnesota Senate rules of ethical conduct by using state computers for campaign purposes. He was forced to apologize to all of his constituents by letter. At the time he promised to use the incident as a “learning experience.” [“Senate ethics committee says Sen. Jungbauer broke rules regarding use of Senate equipment,” ECM Publishers, 6/28/04]