Former North Dakota Senator Ray Holmberg pleaded guilty in federal court to traveling to Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor, after initially pleading not guilty. The Republican served over 45 years in the North Dakota Senate before resigning in 2022. Under a plea agreement, he agreed to plead guilty to the charge of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. Holmberg acknowledged taking frequent trips to Prague, Czech Republic with the purpose of engaging in sex with minors. He faced violations of his pretrial release conditions, including accessing the internet for unapproved reasons and using alcohol.
Although not arrested, Holmberg’s case is considered serious, with allegations of accessing the internet on unapproved devices. His high-profile status in North Dakota politics, as well as misuse of state funds for travel to Europe, have made this scandal significant. Holmberg chaired key committees in the Senate, granting him power over his own travel approvals. The North Dakota School Boards Association returned funds and cut ties with a teacher exchange program after it was revealed that state funds were used for Holmberg’s European trips. The case has been described as possibly the most significant political scandal in North Dakota history by former U.S. Attorney Tim Purdon.
Source
Photo credit www.nbcnews.com
