MN GOP calls for Dayton to release details of settlement with former staffer

Republican Party of Minnesota leaders are demanding DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton release details of a lawsuit with a former member of Dayton's U.S. Senate staff.

Seven years ago former staffer Brad Hanson said Dayton fired him after he told Dayton he needed heart surgery. Hanson sued, and Dayton settled with Hanson in February of 2009.

GOP Chairman Tony Sutton said Dayton owes Minnesotans an explanation of the terms of the settlement and who paid for it.

"We think he should come clean with the citizens of the state," he said. "There's an election in three weeks. This settlement has not reported by the media and so we'd like him, before the election, to let the people of the state know what this is about.

"You're absolutely right [that] it's political," he added.

Dayton's campaign released a short statement saying he will reimburse the U.S. Treasury for the full amount of the settlement to relieve taxpayers of any burden. The statement said terms of the settlement prevent Dayton from discussing it further.