Bakk says Koch, Senate Republicans owe Senate an apology

Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk on Thursday called on former Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch and Senate Republicans to apologize to the full Senate saying that "the institution has been tarnished by the chain of events over the last few months."

Last month, Koch resigned her post and acknowledged having an inappropriate relationship with a male staffer. Rochester Sen. Dave Senjem was later elected to replace her. Senate Republicans also fired their communications director Michael Brodkorb. He was recently replaced by former Speaker of the House Steve Sviggum.

During a legislative preview session with the media, Bakk said he believes there needs to be a full investigation into what led to Koch's resignation.

"I don't believe in piling on and I don't believe she should be asked to resign her seat, but I do believe that her and Sen. (Geoff) Michel and maybe others owe the full Senate an apology for some of the things that have happened over the last few months," he said.

Senjem responded by saying there is no push on his side of the aisle for an ethics investigation into what happened with Koch. Unless a Senate Democrat decides to file a complaint, Senjem said there will not be an investigation.

"We are looking towards tomorrow, not back to yesterday. That was an unfortunate chapter, but it is in my mind history," he said.

Senjem said he fully expects that when Koch returns for the first time to the Capitol on Tuesday for the start of session that she will be swarmed by the press but he added, "She can take it. She'll be just fine."