FARGO ND – The U.S. Attorney’s office filed a sentencing memorandum that outlines Former Republican State Senator Ray Holmberg’s pattern of sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

Two details that raise distressing and pressing questions for the public: “Others involved in politics also began propositioning the young man, he told investigators,” and “Investigators also found that Holmberg routinely bragged to friends he trusted about his sexual exploitation of boys.”

North Dakota Democratic-NPL Chair Adam Goldwyn said, “It’s clear that Ray Holmberg not only thought he was invincible because of the power he had, but he used that power to manipulate and exploit vulnerable young men in North Dakota. Holmberg abused some of the most vulnerable children when he traveled abroad, and he used his position of power—and our taxpayer dollars—to do it. We still don’t know who else enabled Holmberg’s depraved crimes. For the sake of the survivors of his abuse and coercion, may justice be served.”

Goldwyn continued, “As we see legislators attack librarians, teachers, and LGBTQ North Dakotans, it continues to be Republican lawmakers who abuse their positions of power to prey on others. Just yesterday we learned that a MN Republican Senator who ran on “family values” was arrested on felony charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution. It’s Donald Trump who was found liable for sexual assault. He celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a man who was found liable for rape. He brought a man back to the US who has been charged with rape and human trafficking. We won’t ignore this pattern of abuse, and the American people shouldn’t either.”