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A day after accusing a male lawmaker of sexually harassing her, state Rep. Erin Maye Quade said sexual harassment is a big problem at the Minnesota Legislature that goes beyond one person.
 
 


 
"This is a culture that just is very pervasive here in the Legislature," said Maye Quade, DFL-Apple Valley. "I don't want to anyone to think that it just happens to one senator, they resign and it's over with. It's whole behaviors that need to change by a lot of people."
 
 

 that prior to winning election to the House she received unsolicited text messages from state Sen. Dan Schoen, DFL-St. Paul Park, that came off as a solicitation for an encounter at his home.  The run-in with Schoen was while she campaigned for a seat she later won.
 
 

 
Since taking office in January, she said there have been other incidents involving other lawmakers.
 
 
 

State Sen. Dan Schoen accused of sexual harassment

 
"I've had at least four men in the (Republican) majority make sexual comments, comment on my body, send sexual text messages, those kind of things," she said.
 
 

Maye Quade said she reported those incidents. That's why she and other Democrats are taking exception with a statement Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt made Wednesday to MPR News.
 
 

 
"We take sexual harassment in the Minnesota House very seriously," Daudt, R-Zimmerman, said. "And I have not had a specific complaint of sexual harassment since I've been speaker."
 
 

Female lawmakers allege harassment by colleagues


 
Since the MinnPost story Wednesday, a bipartisan chorus of lawmakers, including Gov. Mark Dayton, have called on Schoen to resign. Lindsey Port, who was a DFL House candidate, also told MinnPost of incidents where Schoen made unwelcome sexual remarks and touched her on the buttocks during a 2015 political party event.
 

Schoen said in a statement that the allegations "are either completely false or have been taken out of context." He said he regrets if any of his actions made someone feel uncomfortable or harassed.
 

 
 
Schoen also works as a Cottage Grove police officer. The city said he will be on administrative duty until the allegations are investigated. Officials there are looking at whether any of city policies were violated.
 

 
 
Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, was among those calling for Schoen to resign from the Legislature.
 

 
 
"These allegations are very serious and clearly a violation of the Senate rules on bringing dishonor to the institution," Bakk said. "I feel for the people that are victims and have come forward. It's a terrible situation for everybody involved."

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Tim Pugmire

Author

DFL state Rep. Erin Maye Quade of Apple Valley, who on Wednesday leveled allegations against state Sen. Dan Schoen, said Thursday that there's a sexual harassment culture at the Legislature.

A day after accusing a male lawmaker of sexually harassing her, state Rep. Erin Maye Quade said sexual harassment is a big problem at the Minnesota Legislature that goes beyond one person.

Minnesota lawmaker: sexual harassment pervasive at Capitol

Minnesota politician Margaret Anderson Kelliher discusses harassment in politics.

Minnesota lawmaker: sexual harassment pervasive at Capitol

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