North Dakota Rep. Jeremy Olson resigned his legislative seat Monday, a decision legislative leaders said was connected to a harassment complaint filed against the lawmaker.

Olson, a Republican from Arnegard, wrote in a brief letter that he believes resigning “is in the best interest of the Legislature, my constituents, and my family.”

House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, said he was informed that a complaint was filed against Olson on Friday, the last day of the legislative session. Lefor said the complaint was filed with Senate Minority Leader Sen. Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo.

Hogan said the harassment complaint was withdrawn Sunday after the person who filed it learned about Olson’s resignation. She added the withdrawn complaint will not become a public record.

“People who have been in these situations are very hesitant to complain because of the public record issues,” Hogan said. “And that’s why the person pulled the complaint and doesn’t want a full investigation. And it’s not necessary because Jeremy (Olson) is gone.”

At 12:45 a.m. Saturday, as lawmakers were wrapping up the legislative session, a bipartisan panel of lawmakers met in a closed-door executive session to discuss a complaint related to the Legislature’s workplace harassment policy, according to a meeting agenda. The agenda does not say who the complaint is about.

Lefor said he spoke with Olson over the weekend about the complaint filed against him. Lefor said he could not discuss details of the complaint.

“During that conversation, he determined that it was in the best interest of all for him to resign,” Lefor said. “And I agreed with that.”

North Dakota lawmakers work to update harassment policy

On April 29, Olson resigned as House majority caucus leader, citing the demands of his work schedule.

The resignation followed a conversation a group of lawmakers had with legislative leadership about Olson weeks earlier.

Rep. Lori VanWinkle, R-Minot, said she observed Olson kiss a legislative employee on the cheek at an event in March. After the incident, she said other lawmakers told her about other alleged inappropriate sexual behavior involving Olson. That prompted four lawmakers to bring their concerns directly to Lefor, VanWinkle said in a text message to the North Dakota Monitor.

“The group asked leader Lefor to disallow Jeremy (Olson) from running as a candidate for Legislative Management,” VanWinkle said. “And then asked that he eventually step down from caucus leadership.”

Olson, in an interview Monday with the North Dakota Monitor, said he never saw the complaint that was filed against him.

“In this world right now, you are guilty until proven innocent,” Olson said. “And the faceless keyboard warriors will just jump on that.”

When asked about the allegation that he kissed an employee, Olson said, “I don’t remember anything like that, honestly. But honestly, I’m not going to respond to rumors. I don’t want to go there.”

Olson said he felt targeted by rumors and the complaint in the closing days of the legislative session. He said he decided to resign because “my family didn’t sign up for that sort of stuff.”

Without citing examples, he said there are political groups working in the state that are trying to “take down” some lawmakers.

Olson, who represents District 26 in northwest North Dakota, has served for two legislative sessions. It will now be up to District 26 Republicans to appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of Olson’s term, which goes through 2028.

North Dakota lawmakers last year worked to update the Legislature’s workplace harassment policy, citing an uptick in complaints to the Ethics Commission.

Hogan said she believes the complaint process worked well in this case.

“There was obviously a serious concern about behavior, and I think particularly for people reporting, you have to assure that they know the process and assuring that you don’t assume one side is innocent or guilty,” Hogan said. “You have to really maintain a balance of protecting both sets of rights.”

In 2021, the North Dakota House expelled Rep. Luke Simons, R-Dickinson, related to harassment allegations. Hogan said the Simons allegations were the first time the legislative workplace harassment policy was used.

Lefor said he thinks the process worked well, but added that leaders may talk about how to improve the process in the future.

“As legislative leaders, we want to make absolutely sure that the assembly is a place where everyone feels safe, feels respected, feels supported. And that’s why we have these procedures in place to address these things and make sure it’s a fair and transparent process,” Lefor said. “That’s what happened here. Those procedures were followed.”

North Dakota Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. North Dakota Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Amy Dalrymple for questions: info@northdakotamonitor.com.

Some North Dakota health agencies are trying to adjust to the sudden loss of federal funding.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services learned last week it lost about $3.2 million in federal funding for substance-use treatment and mental health programs after block grants were rescinded by a federal agency.

In an evening email on March 24, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration told HHS that the COVID-19 pandemic-era grants were taken back in accordance with President Donald Trump’s executive order empowering the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency to cut costs.

“These grants were issued for a limited purpose: To ameliorate the effects of the pandemic,” the email stated. “The end of the pandemic provides cause to terminate COVID-related grants. Now that the pandemic is over, the grants are no longer necessary."

The grants were scheduled to expire Sept. 30.

Pam Sagness, executive director for the Behavioral Health Division for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in 2021 the department received the five block grants to target substance abuse prevention, treatment and mental health programming totaling about $9.5 million. The funding for these grants came from the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Renae Moch, public health director for Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, said the organization received $115,000 from HHS to develop plans for a 24/7, 365-day facility to focus on crisis response, mental health and addiction services, rather than treating patients in an emergency room.

“How we were notified and how this kind of went down has just been unbelievable,” Moch said.

She said she received a general notification from HHS last Tuesday morning that their block grant funding was going to be impacted, but she was still unclear about what that meant and what funding was being rescinded. She got a call back about 4:30 p.m. from the department, 45 minutes before she was to present and hopefully award funding from the grant during a Bismarck City Commission meeting.

“I had to kind of refocus and compose myself before going up to the meeting at 5:15 p.m.,” Moch said. The presentation and contract award were pulled from the agenda.

Sagness said 42 grantees statewide will lose federal funding.

“Our focus now is on ensuring that services continue by identifying alternative funding and working with providers to minimize disruptions,” Sagness said in a statement. “It’s important for North Dakotans to know that support remains in place. Anyone struggling should continue to reach out for help, including through (calling) 988 or their local behavioral health provider.”

The department received notice the grants were being terminated the day the funding was rescinded, Sagness said.

Holly Scott, a spokesperson for Fargo Cass Public Health, said its state partners confirmed that its funding for social detox center operations will run out after September.

“Our leadership team is currently working to determine the impacts of these changes, while also reviewing alternate sources of funding to assure long-term sustainability,” Scott said in an email.

Other organizations impacted by the loss of block grant funding:

• Connect Us Therapy, Williston – $50,000 for crisis response and law enforcement mental health support
• Corner Post Counseling, Mandan – $30,000 for crisis response and law enforcement mental health support
• Public Health & Tribes, 23 contracts – $200,000 for substance-use prevention
• Flint Communications, Fargo – $824,951 for Parents Lead, opioid messaging initiatives and marketing statewideBeMoreColorful, Fargo – $160,000 for behavioral health workforce tools

“All of the planning and all of the work that has gone into it and now, here we are,” Moch said.

She said they don’t want to abandon the project, but the organization is going to have to come up with alternate funding sources.

“We will be losing months,” Moch said. She’s also hopeful a new grant or funding source can be identified before the city and county begin their budget discussions over the summer.

Agriculture research loses momentum with federal payments uncertain

Separate federal funding through the Health Equity Immunization Grant was also rescinded for Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, she said. That funding impacted the organization’s ability to provide free COVID-19 tests and a portion of the salary for a vaccine specialist.

“It’s all related to the same decision,” Moch said. She added that arguments about the pandemic being over and the funding not being needed don’t hold water because they are still working through the impacts of COVID-19. That funding was supposed to continue until 2026, Moch said.

“The abrupt impacts on us at the local level is what is just so unexpected and so we’re just really trying to scramble now because there was no notice,” she said.

In an interview with the North Dakota Monitor, Gov. Kelly Armstrong said the COVID-19 pandemic has been over for three years, but he has been in contact with HHS to get a handle on the impacts to state health providers.

“I’m glad it happened during the legislative session so we can figure out how we readjust our budget and figure out how to finish off the session,” Armstrong said.

In a news release, the Department of Health and Human Services said it was evaluating funding options for the loss in federal block grants and will collaborate with other state agencies, organizations and private partners to address priority areas. The department said it will provide updates as more information becomes available.

North Dakota Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. North Dakota Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Amy Dalrymple for questions: info@northdakotamonitor.com.

The District 23 NDGOP executive committee also adopted a vote of no confidence in the lawmaker’s ability to represent the district and said his post doesn’t align with the district’s views or principles.

In a now-deleted post from Feb. 2, Rios referenced the Jewish heritage of the president of Mexico and questioned if the CIA would help President Donald Trump overthrow her.

“We put out this statement because we felt that it was necessary with the level of what he did,” Corey Johnson, NDGOP chair for District 23, said in an interview.

Rios removed from committee after berating police during DUI arrest

Johnson said Rios was previously asked to resign by the District 23 NDGOP executive committee after the lawmaker made racist and homophobic comments to police officers during a 2023 drunk driving arrest, but Rios did not resign.

North Dakota Republican Party Chair Sandi Sanford said in a statement Monday that Rios’ post and previous behavior do not align with the party’s expectation of legislative integrity.

“Rep. Rios needs to recognize the seriousness of his actions, end his pattern of unacceptable behavior, and repent of his ugly words and whatever inspired them,” Sanford said.

On Monday, Johnson said the district committee does not plan to start a petition to recall Rios from office.

Rios said he plans to make a formal apology to temper some of the criticism from his remarks.

“Obviously, the district took a bunch of heat and pressure from my stupid remarks, which I shouldn’t have said,” Rios said in an interview. “There was no antisemitic sentiment at all. It was just me being me, and moving forward I need to make sure it doesn’t happen again and watch my mouth.”

Rios said he understands why the board issued a vote of no confidence to separate itself from the comments.

Lawmakers can be removed by an expulsion resolution from a chamber of the Legislature or a recall petition that must include signatures from 25% of the total district vote in the previous governor’s race, said John Bjornson, director of Legislative Council. Based on the 2024 general election, a minimum of 1,173 signatures of District 23 residents would need to be verified to warrant a recall.

“If I wasn’t recalled for my DUI, I don’t see how I could be recalled for this during the session,” Rios said.

NDGOP leaders ‘troubled’ by legislator’s drunken rant against police

Rios said he has no plans to resign his seat and wants to get back to work, pushing three bills he sponsored that are receiving committee hearings this week.

One bill would dismantle the state’s Office of Legal Immigration while another would regulate participation in high school sports and activities. The third, a House resolution, would acknowledge the kingship of Jesus Christ into North Dakota law.

Johnson said a recall petition isn’t something that occurs quickly and any resolution from a petition likely wouldn’t come until after the legislative session. He added Rios’ seat is up for reelection in 2026, before the next legislative session would begin.

Johnson said Rios has demonstrated an unacceptable pattern of conduct and he expects “a massive change in behavior.”

“I am a firm believer in forgiveness and the ability of people to change, grow and develop as a person,” Johnson said. “As it stands today, we as a committee, and I as the chairman, do not have confidence in his ability to represent us, but I would never say that that can’t change from somebody.”

House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, said he felt Rios’ comments were “reprehensible” and the district’s response was appropriate.

Lefor and Speaker of the House Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield, spoke to Rios the day after they learned of the post to lay out what is expected of him as a member of the Legislature, which Rios agreed to, according to Lefor.

Lefor said he plans to closely monitor his situation going forward.

“When you are on social media, you are representing all of us and if you say something that is inappropriate, I will talk to you about that,” Lefor said. “And that’s what was done here.”

Lefor previously removed Rios from serving on the interim Judiciary Committee after Rios berated a Williston police officer. This session, Rios serves on House Agriculture and Human Services committees.

North Dakota Monitor is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. North Dakota Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Amy Dalrymple for questions: info@northdakotamonitor.com.