STATEMENT OF AMY KOCH UPON PUBLICATION OF STAR TRIBUNE INTERVIEW*

I have waited a long time to tell the truth about the events of December 2011. I have done so for a number of reasons. The time for truth telling, however, has come and I spoke with Baird Helgeson of the StarTribune in order to let the public know what actually happened, as opposed to the self-serving spin Ive seen presented as transparency and accountability. When I was ambushed at a meeting I attended under false pretenses at the Minneapolis Club on December 14, 2011, Sen. David Hann insisted that I had to resign and that the staff person with whom I was involved would be fired by Cal Ludeman that evening. If I refused to yield to his bullying demands he and some of the other senators present threatened to call a caucus and tell members what they believed to be true. My side of the story, such as it was, clearly was of no interest to them. Sen. Geoff Michel misled me, the caucus, the media and Minnesotans about who knew what when and the reasons for certain decisions being taken at the time they were. Substantial portions of his testimony to the Senate Ethics Committee, which was under oath, are untrue. He, and others, recklessly disseminated information about me and the staff person in order to inflict the greatest amount of damage to our careers and reputations. I have taken full responsibility for my mistakes without equivocation. I believe strongly in the principles of the Republican Party no matter how much they may have been occluded by these and subsequent events. One party rule by the DFL is already showing the lack of ideas and solutions that Minnesota needs. Instead, the tiredest of liberal tax and spend reflexives kick in, leaving us less competitive compared to our next door neighbors while bored wealthy donors of the left sanctimoniously try to divide us by the basest of class arguments. As for my side of the aisle, however, an unfortunate and destructive cannibalistic mentality has taken over. Attacking others for perceived shortcomings has become more important than championing our ideals. I know there is great opportunity ahead for MNGOP. By examining and being honest about the successes of 2010 and the failures of 2012, we can position ourselves to be a responsible alternative to the stale, outdated, job killing ideology of the DFL. A governor who won with only 43% of the vote is manifestly not in a position to govern as if he had a mandate. Too many states have faltered at the hands of Democrat rule; we cant allow that fate for Minnesota as well. I look forward to contributing to that effort in whatever small ways I can as a private citizen. _____________________________________________________________________ *My interview took place two days before Michael Brodkorbs car accident the evening of January 23rd.