In light of Holmberg case, Sen. Mathern Proposes Bill to Make Lawmakers, Higher ed Employees Mandated Reporters of Crimes Against Children and Renew Call to Empower Ethics Commission
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 28, 2025
BISMARCK – Today, Sen. Tim Mathern (D-Fargo) proposed legislation to require elected officials and employees of higher education institutions to report knowledge of crimes against children. He and House Minority Leader Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks) announced this legislation at a press conference at the Capitol this morning. They also renewed their call to empower and fully fund the the North Dakota Ethics Commission. The House rejected the Senate’s proposal to add a full-time staffer. They also added an arbitrary cut-off for the length of investigations in violation of the state constitution’s prohibition against hampering the work of the Ethics Commission.
Mathern remarked, “Ray Holmberg committed the most heinous crimes against children. He bragged about it. Holmberg was the longest-serving state Senator in the country when he was in office. He walked the halls of this Capitol as one of the most powerful men in North Dakota. He said it himself—that he would be in power as long as he wanted to, unless he was caught. He emailed his friend Bruce Gjovig, ‘no one is ever (too) young’ in 2011. Holmberg served for another full decade after he said that. That’s outrageous.”
Mathern continued, “This would be a step toward justice as we continue to process Holmberg’s vile crimes and uncover more information on what has become the most egregious scandal in our state’s history.”
Ista said, “But we have learned that Holmberg actually did share his true self with close associates years earlier. This was not from rumors and gossip or even news reports–and it was not just off-color jokes or crude talk amongst friends–it was words directly from Holmberg himself in which he revealed himself to be a monster who preys on boys and vulnerable young men. To receive that information and do nothing to stop it is a complete moral failure.”
Ista continued, “Even now, it is hard to fathom that a hidden predator was in our midst for so many years, roaming these very halls. It is inconceivable that anyone who had reason to know the real Ray Holmberg failed to stop him. Now we face a choice: be paralyzed by disbelief or take action. We owe it to the people of North Dakota to act now so this never happens again in our state.”
CONTACT:
Laura Dronen
Communications Director
laura.dronen@demnpl.com
